On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Italy's unification, the Central European Initiative, the Austrian Forum of Culture in Milan as well as the Institute for Mittleeuropean Cultural Meetings of Gorizia organised a panel discussion entitled “Patria Italia Unita – Sempre Irredenta?”*. This important event took place on 10 February at the CEI Headquarters in Trieste.
On this occasion, Renate Lunzer had the opportunity to present her latest book entitled “Irredenti Redenti – Intellettuali Giuliani del ‘900“ (Trieste, 2009), which received the Premio Roma on 16 July 2010. She focuses on the relationship between Italian and Austrian culture, presenting the work of some of the most renowned intellectuals in Trieste during the 20th century.
*Irredentism (from Italian irredento, "unredeemed") is any position advocating annexation of territories administered by another state on the grounds of common ethnicity or prior historical possession, actual or alleged. Some of these movements are also called pan-nationalist movements. It is a feature of identity politics and cultural and political geography. Because most borders have been moved and redrawn over time, a great many countries could theoretically present irredentist claims to their neighbours.
from left: Claudio Magris and Renate Lunzer