by Ernest Ogbozor
Alcide de Gasperi was a one-time Italian prime minister and often referred to as one of the founding fathers of the European Union, along with Robert Schuman of France and Konrad Adenauer of Germany.[1] De Gasperi studied Philology in Vienna and he also got involved with the Catholic student movement while he was in school. According to the European Union, de Gasperi's association with the Christian movement honed the mediating skills that later became so essential during his politically active years, and he understood that finding solutions to problems was more important than holding grudges and resentment.[2]
De Gasperi worked as a reporter for a newspaper after his graduation in 1905. Thereafter, he was elected to the Austrian House of Representatives, where he championed the improvement of Italian minority rights. He co-founded the Italian People's Party (PPI) after the First World War. His involvement with the PPI was challenged by the Italian government under Mussolini's leadership; they used violence and intimidation against the PPI and it led to De Gasperi's arrest and subsequent detention. However, with the help of the Vatican, de Gasperi was granted asylum at the Vatican after 18 months in prison, and he served the Vatican afterwards for 14 years in the capacity of a librarian.[3]
De Gasperi later emerged as the leader of the Christian Democratic Party during the Second World War, through which he assumed the position of Italian Prime Minister for eight consecutive periods. This record is a landmark in the history of Italian democracy. De Gasperi supported international cooperation and alliances, and he believed that the Second World War was a lesson for the whole of Europe. He also facilitated the post-war reconstruction of Italy. He was later awarded the Charlemagne prize for his pro-European commitment; he said, in his acceptance speech, that "the future will not be built through force, nor the desire to conquer, but by the patient application of the democratic method, the constructive spirit of agreement, and by respect for freedom."[4]
De Gasperi's role during the period of European integration was described as that of a mediator between Germany and France. His contribution to the creation of European Economic Community was well appreciated. During de Gasperi's lifetime, he worked tirelessly to ensure that European unity was possible to heal the wounds of the two world wars, as well as to help prevent the atrocities of the past from happening again.[5]
[1] "Alcide De Gasperi." Wikipedia, accessed February 16, 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Gasperi>.
[2] "Alcide De Gasperi: An Inspired Mediator for Democracy and Freedom in Europe." European Commission, accessed February 17, 2013. <http://europa.eu/about-eu/eu-history/founding-fathers/pdf/alcide_de_gasperi_en.pdf>.
[3] "The Founding Fathers of the EU." The European Union, accessed February 15, 2013. <http://europa.eu/about-eu/eu-history/founding-fathers/index_en.htm>; "Alcide De Gasperi." Wikipedia.
[4] Paparella, Emanuel L. "The EU's Cultural Identity as Envisioned by Its Founding Fathers." Ovi Magazine, February 3, 2013, accessed February 16, 2013. <http://www.ovimagazine.com/art/9644>.
[5] "The Founding Fathers of the EU."
