20th-Century Italy: Liberalism, Fascism, and Reconstruction

ICCC Houston is delighted to welcome Dr. Dominic A. Aquila for a four-week, in-person course on Italy in the first half of the 20th century. In this course, students will examine the political, social, economic, and cultural transformations in Italy from the early 1900s through the 1950s. Beginning with the crisis of Liberal Italy and the challenges of World War I, we'll explore the rise of Benito Mussolini and the Fascist regime, its impact on Italian society, and its role in World War II. This course will also investigate the fall of Fascism, the Resistance movement, and the postwar reconstruction leading to the establishment of the Italian Republic in 1946. Special attention will be given to the role of the Catholic Church, the influence of Italian Futurism and other cultural movements, economic modernization, and Italy’s evolving place in European geopolitics. Students will engage with primary and secondary sources, including speeches, propaganda, literature, and film, to develop a nuanced understanding of this critical period in Italian history.

by Christopher Duggan

When: Mondays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., March 31 through April 21, 2025

Where: Italian Cultural & Community Center, 1101 Milford Street

Tickets: $125 ICCC Members | $150 General Admission

Dominic A. Aquila is a professor of history, Associate Dean of Liberal Studies for the Fine and Performing Arts, Director of the Allbritton Art Institute, Fellow of the Core at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, and Fellow of the Inklings Project, The McGrath Institute, The University of Notre Dame. He teaches history, music, business, the great books, education, and theology. At St. Thomas he was founding dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and served as provost and vice president for academic affairs and dean of graduate studies from 2008 to 2017.

Aquila has doctoral degrees in Higher Education Administration from Texas Tech University, and history from the University of South Africa, which he began at the University of Rochester under the late Christopher Lasch. Aquila also has an MBA from New York University, and a bachelor’s degree in music from The Juilliard School.

Before his career in higher education, Aquila was an active percussionist, performing with the American Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, The Rochester Philharmonic, American Ballet Theater, the New York City Opera, and a number of Broadway shows. He has performed under the conductors, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Walter Hendl, David Russell Davies, Michael Tilson Thomas, Sixten Erhling, and James Conlon.

His current research agenda includes a translation of the political writings of Fr. Joseph Costanzo, S.J, from Italian to English, and a book on the interrelation of Dante’s Commedia and Puccini’s Il Trittico.

Dominic and his wife, Diane, are Lay Dominicans and have eleven children and ten grandchildren.

Due to high demand for courses, tuition is non-refundable. We offer tuition credit toward a future group class if you cancel 48 hours in advance of the start of the first class. Tuition credit is valid for six months from the date issued. If you cancel less than 48 hours in advance, your tuition payment will be converted into a tax-deductible donation to the Italian Cultural & Community Center. No credits or refunds will be given to students who miss a portion of the class. To cancel your reservation, email us at [email protected]. Eventbrite fees are non-refundable.

This course is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.

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