Of David Allegranti

Source: Arianna publisher
This is the story of the miserable censorship suffered by Alain de Benoist at the Feltrinelli Foundation.
Here you find:
a) The article commenting on the David Allegranti story (on Il Foglio and ilfoglio.it 6/2/2018)
b) The censors' letter-petition
c) The exchange of letters between de Benoist and the Feltrinelli Foundation.
Intellectuals gag the philosopher
This meeting doesn't happen. And in fact it won't happen: the Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Foundation has suspended the conference with Alain de Benoist, writer, philosopher and founder of the Nouvelle Droite, than the next one 13 February was supposed to dialogue with the political scientist Piero Ignazi and with Gad Lerner as moderator. An appointment that was part of the “What is left / What is right” in which he has already participated, il 30 last January, Florian Philippot, former leading exponent of the National Front.
“Unfortunately – wrote Spartaco Puttini of the Feltrinelli Foundation in an email to de Benoist – I must inform you that we are forced to suspend the initiative of 13 February, because the contextual Italian electoral campaign could provide specious arguments and our firm desire for intellectual discussion could be misunderstood and therefore subject to exploitation". To tell the truth, the "exploitation" has already happened. The meeting was suspended after an appeal-petition signed by around twenty "scholars of the right and extreme right", published in some online magazines such as Lavoro Culturale and also taken up by Fatto Quotidiano last year 2 February.
“Precisely because we study the far right, we are surprised and surprised to see that your Foundation, whose commitment to democracy and anti-fascism we appreciate, invited two well-known representatives of the French far right, quality Alain de Benoist and Florian Philippot, to speak in a series of conferences on what right and left mean. A series of conferences included, moreover, within a path designed for voters to orient themselves in view of the political elections of 4 March… We contest the idea that de Benoist and Philippot are representatives of a 'new' right. Scientific research on the National Front shows how the 'de-demonisation' of the party led today by Marine Le Pen is a political communication strategy, not a work of ideological break with the positions of Jean-Marie Le Pen". And the fact that Philippot and de Benoist's interventions take place in the context of the Italian electoral campaign only aggravates, in our eyes, your choice". The appeal was signed by Matteo Albanese of the University of Lisbon, Martina Avanza of the University of Lausanne, Christine Bard of the University of Angers, Elisa Bellé of the University of Trento, Lorenzo Bernini of the University of Verona and others, including some French scholars.
“I had no intention of meddling in the Italian electoral campaign!”, de Benoist responded to the Feltrinelli Foundation's email. “It seems to me that you have succumbed to the pressure of the little bubble that foments hatred which addressed a grotesque 'open letter' to you and ordered you not to give me the floor. Sin". Il Foglio tried to contact Dr. Puttini, which however referred to an imminent press release from the Foundation's communications office. However, he only confirmed the suspension of the meeting: “No press release will be sent”. The petition was also sent to Jean Yves Camus, progressive French political scientist, specialized in the study of the far right and director of the Observatory of Political Radicalities at the Jean-Jaurès Foundation in Paris, but he refused to sign it. Ideas are scary, but fortunately there are those who escape the proscription lists.
“I did not ask to be invited to this conference”, explains de Benoist to the Foglio. “The Feltrinelli foundation contacted me last summer to invite me. They told me that they wanted to organize a series of conferences on the Right-Left question. It was the subject of one of my latest books, which has also been translated into Italian: 'Populism. The end of the right and the left (Arianna, Bologna, 2017). I accepted the invitation, which was then confirmed several times last January. A few days ago, I heard about an 'open letter' to the Feltrinelli Foundation in which it was said, for unclear reasons, that this invitation was somehow scandalous and a request was made to cancel the announced discussion. This letter was signed by Italians I have never heard of and by four or five completely unknown French scholars, with the exception of Eric Fassin, an extremist supporter of gender ideology, the same Eric Fassin who a few months ago had debated with me quite normally on public radio France-Culture".
The text of the letter, says de Benoist to the Foglio, “In my opinion it's not just incredibly intolerant and hateful, but also extremely stupid. Try to attribute theses to me that were never mine, and try to establish a connection between me and Florian Philippot, who I have never met once in my entire life (in 45 Furthermore, I have never voted for the Front National for years)”. In short, by Benoist, there is a problem with ideas and free speech? Ideas are scary? “It seems to me that there is a big problem. I am not a member of any political party. I am a writer and a philosopher, specialized in political philosophy and the history of ideas. I published 110 books, including three books against racism and xenophobia, 2000 articles and done more than 700 interviews. Beyond 45 of these books have been translated in Italy. Ma mi sembra abbastanza evidente che le persone che hanno firmato la lettera non hanno la benché minima idea di ciò che ho scritto. Non mi leggono. Hanno chiesto la soppressione della conferenza perché hanno sentito questo o quello, o solo per ragioni collegate alla politica italiana. Questo tipo di persone ha un problema reale con le idee e il free speech. Non sanno che cos’è un dibattito intellettuale (o forse sono semplicemente incapaci di dibattere, a causa delle loro modeste abilità cognitive). In ogni caso è un peccato. La storia recente ha dimostrato che quando uno comincia a impedire le discussioni intellettuali, poi arriva un momento in cui i libri vengono bruciati, poi arriva un altro momento in cui le stesse persone vengono bruciate. It is the basic logic of the witch hunt.".
https://www.ilfoglio.it/cultura/2018/02/05/news/gli-intello-mettono-il-bavaglio-al-filosofo-177173/
The censors' petition letter
On political blindness. Open letter to the Feltrinelli Foundation
By LC editorial team published on 02/02/2018
We are hosting the open letter from a group of scholars of the extreme right following the decision to invite Alain de Benoist and Florian Philippot to a series of conferences on the right and left at the Feltrinelli Foundation.
To Doctor Carlo Feltrinelli
President of the Feltrinelli Foundation
and the members of the Scientific Committee
Maurice Aymard
Giuseppe Berta
Alessandro Colombo
Enrica Chiappero-Martinetti
Donatella della Porta
Maria Guercio
Mauro Magatti
Michele Salvati
Nadia Urbinati
Danilo Zolo
2 February 2018
Esteemed President,
Esteemed members of the Scientific Committee of the Feltrinelli Foundation,
We are scholars of the right and extreme right. For years we have been investigating the phenomenon of the emergence and persistence of these political actors in our democracies.
Precisely because we study the far right, we are surprised and surprised to see that your Foundation, whose commitment to democracy and anti-fascism we appreciate, invited two well-known representatives of the French far right, quality Alain de Benoist and Florian Philippot, to speak in a series of conferences on what right and left mean. A series of conferences included, moreover, within a path designed for voters to orient themselves in view of the political elections of 4 March.
Naturally, we agree that we should be interested in the right, we've been doing it for years. And we are aware that this political field is very heterogeneous, so much so as to include openly neo-fascist groups and populist groups. However, what unites very different actors like de Benoist and Philippot is "nativism", a worldview according to which states should be inhabited only by “natives” e, so, every person (or idea) otherwise it would be problematic for the survival of national communities. Such a homogeneous and exclusionary vision of society is in contradiction with the pluralism that characterizes democracy.
We contest the idea that de Benoist and Philippot are representatives of a "new" right. Scientific research on the National Front shows how the "de-demonization" of the party led today by Marine Le Pen is a political communication strategy, not a work of ideological break with the positions of Jean-Marie Le Pen. Having Philippot intervene clearly means contributing, even unintentionally, to this normalization strategy. Not even Philippot's new lineup, The Patriots, distances itself from this reasoning, as clearly demonstrated in the article written by him published on your site. Substitute, Indeed, the political dichotomy between right and left with a lexicon that sees "patriots" and "globalists" opposed is an emblematic example of this: “Neither right, ni gauche : French !” (Nor right, nor left: French!) has long been a slogan of Jean-Marie Le Pen and Samuel Maréchal.
The fact that Philippot and de Benoist's interventions take place in the context of the Italian electoral campaign only makes it worse, in our eyes, your choice. Especially if you take into account the role of MEP, by Philippot, and as an ideologue of pan-European neo-fascist movements, as well as theorist of a form of culturalist racism not limited to the neo-fascist area, by Benoist. In Italy as in Europe, de Benoist's ideas inform the line of different far-right actors with different potential - including the League or the more marginal CasaPound - whose common ambition is to speak to a wider audience than just nostalgic fascists.
Fully recognizing the Feltrinelli Foundation for its role as a cultural actor, we would like to strongly protest against the legitimization of the political positions of your two guests. You will reply that you are a research foundation and not a political group. We will reply that we also do research. And precisely by virtue of our work, we cannot help but be outraged and outraged by your political blindness.
In times like these, in which wars, Economic inequalities and repressive regimes force many to seek protection in Europe and create fertile ground for racism and xenophobia, it seems appropriate to give visibility to the ideas of de Benoist and Philippot? The far right has always played on the confusion between right and left and thinking of "confronting" Philippot and de Benoist on this does not clarify anything. On the contrary, it only adds more confusion and simultaneously legitimizes their strategy. For us, this is a serious sign of democratic regression.
First signatories
Matteo Albanese (University of Lisbon)
Martina Avanza (University of Lausanne)
Christine Bard (University of Angers)
Elisa Bellé (University of Trento)
Lorenzo Bernini (University of Verona)
Nicoletta Bourbaki (working group on historical falsehoods and neo-fascist propaganda)
Pietro Castelli Gattinara (University of Oslo)
Maddalena Gretel Cammelli (University of Bologna)
Antoine Chollet (University of Lausanne)
Stephanie Dechezelles (Science Po’ Aix)
Yadad of War (Playing the Gender Card)
Lynda Dematteo (CNRS EHESS Paris)
Eric Fassin (University of Paris 8)
Caterina Froio (Espol Lille)
Sara Garbagnoli (University of Paris 3)
Andrea Mammone (Holocaust Research Institute, University of London)
Marie-Anne Matard-Bonucci (Paris University 8)
Juan Anton Mellon (University of Barcelona)
Joe Mulhall (Senior researcher a Hope not Hate)
Massimo Prearo (University of Verona)
Giovanni Savino (Institute of Social Sciences, Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Service, Mosca)
Claire Zalc (Institute of Modern and Contemporary History, CNRS)
The exchange of letters between Alain de Benoist and Spartaco Puttini
Dear Spartaco Puttini,
I obviously had no intention of interfering in the Italian electoral campaign ! In all likelihood, you gave in to pressure from the little hateful clique who sent you a grotesque “open letter” warning you not to give me the floor. It's a shame.
Well noted in any case the suspension of this initiative.
Yours sincerely,
Alain de Benoist
Of : Spartacus Puttini
HAS : Alain de Benoist
Objet : R: invitation feltrinelli foundation
Bonjour,
unfortunately I have just informed you that we are in the need to suspend the initiative of 13 FEBRUARY, that concerns you, because the co-presence of the Italian electoral campaign could provide specious arguments and our firm intention of intellectual confrontation could be misunderstood and therefore subject to exploitation.
I'm sorry for this bad news.
I apologize to you for this..
I am looking to return to you within a reasonable time.
Thank you very much for the availability you have shown towards our initiative..
My best regards
Spartacus Puttini
Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Foundation
Parfait.
Sincerely,
A. B.
Spartacus Puttini
Thanks to you.
The translation will be simultaneous, therefore will not have an impact on the time available to you.
Sincerely
Spartacus Puttini
Alain DE BENOIST
Object: Re: invitation feltrinelli foundation
Bonjour,
Thank you for this message (arrived as usual, I don't know why, in my spam box).
The program suits me very well. If my speaking time is limited to 30 minutes, it should be assumed that the translation will take about half of it.
I already know Gad Lerner. On the other hand, I never had the opportunity to meet Florian Philippot.
Thanks in advance for plane tickets and hotel.
Sincerely,
Alain de Benoist
Objet : R: invitation feltrinelli foundation
Bonjour,
for the evening we think about the following development, Please :
* Institutional greeting ;
* Introduction from a member of our scientific network, who will introduce you (the prof. Piero Ignazi from the University of Boulogne) ;
* Your speech (roughly 30 minutes if that suits you) ;
* A part more dialogue between you, Ignazi is the journalist who brought down the management of the initiative (who would be Gad Lerner, who has already done this type of work for us with Florian Philippot (who I think you know) and who was at our house last night ;
* Conclusion (here you will have another 10’ if you wish)
In a short time I will try to see with you the most precise program of the evening, which would develop approximately between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m..
I will come back to you with the plane tickets and the hotel voucher.
Thank you so much.
Very cordially
Spartacus Puttini
Bonjour,
Thank you for this quick response.
I will sign the form and give it to you in Milan (because I don't have the necessary equipment to scan it).
A Paris-Milan flight in the morning of 13 February suits me very well, provided that the departure is not too early (it now takes hours to access airports and go through controls). Late morning or lunchtime would be perfect. Same thing for the Milan-Paris flight from 14.
You have not told me the desired duration of the conference – to which we will have to add the time necessary for translation.
Cordially,
Alain de Benoist
Bonjour,
thank you very much.
Attached you find the text for the release of your article, that I ask you the courtesy of compiling and signing.
For interviews I will put you in contact with Miss Francesca Esposito, from the Press Office of the Fondazione, which binds us in copy.
The interviews, general online could take place in the afternoon of the initiative, for media coverage the days after the event, or the days before by telephone or written correspondence.
In this way I could make you the standard proposal of the Fondazione with a plane for the morning of 13 FEBRUARY, with the return to Paris for the morning of 14 and with the night of 13 in Milan, Please.
It would be feasible for you?
I ask for an answer on this subject to find the most satisfactory solution..
For translation, it's perfect.
Thank you so much.
Very cordially
Spartacus Puttini
Bonjour.
Everything has happened
I will come back to you very soon
Thank you so much!
Spartacus Puttini
Dear Spartaco Puttini,
Thank you for this message.
You will first find attached the text of 600 words you asked me.
If you have a few interviews planned before the conference, I suggest you arrive in Milano the day before, either Monday 12 FEBRUARY.
The ideal would be for you to send me an electronic plane ticket with an arrival in Milano on 12 February at the end of the afternoon and a return to Paris at the end of the morning on Wednesday 14 FEBRUARY. There would therefore also be a hotel to remember for two nights.
You should also tell me the desired duration for my intervention., knowing that I will speak in French and that a translation must therefore be provided. (I can send my text a few days in advance to the translator).
Cordially,
Alain de Benoist
Merci !
Sincerely
SP
I answered you just now ! Have you now received my message ? Otherwise, I will send it back to you right away.
Cordially,
Alain de Benoist
Bonjour,
unfortunately I did not receive a response to my last, below.
I won't want there to be problems with the electronic box.
Waiting for your response,
Very cordially
Spartacus Puttini
Bonjour,
I come back to you to ask you for the necessary information to deal with your transfer and your hotel in view of the initiative of the 13 FEBRUARY, which is already on our calendar.
I am going to ask you if it would be possible to have one of your articles available. 600 mots, roughly, for publication on our site and our communications channels in view of the event, to launch it in the best possible way.
For our Press Office I will even ask you for your availability for interviews the days before the 13 and in the afternoon of the same day of the initiative.
What did you think? It would be feasible for you?
Waiting for your response,
Thank you so much.
Very cordially
Spartacus Puttini
Bonjour,
Thank you very much for accepting our invitation.
I am very happy.
We could fix for the 13 FEBRUARY, Please.
I remain available to satisfy your needs. I'm still waiting for information on this subject..
I will get back to you as soon as possible, closer to the date of the initiative.
Merci
Very cordially
Spartacus Puttini
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your message, and this kind invitation.
I could indeed come and speak in Milan about the history of the notions of right and left in the public space.
Among the dates you offer me, those of 12 a you 13 February may suit me.
Sincerely,
Alain de Benoist
Hello Sir,
Je suis Spartacus Puttini, coordinator of the Observatory on Democracy of the Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli.
It was Mr Claudio Mutti who gave me your address.
The Fondazione is an international documentation and research center in the field of social history., economic and political of the modern and contemporary era.
The Fondazione is defining its cultural initiative calendar for the season 2017-2018: about 100 day of cultural event and dissemination activity based on sustainable development themes, of the future of work, problems of European identity and political innovation.
In the areas of research activity developed on the themes of political innovation and changes in democracy the Fondazione is promoting a cycle of public meetings (« What is Left/What is Right ») on the meaning that the terms “left” and “right” can still have in the public space and in the debate, in the context of the several transformations and new challenges in which European societies find themselves. We would like to approach the hot topics of the political debate and question ourselves about political identities in today's changing Europe..
For us it would be an honor to be able to count on your participation as a keynote speaker and to enable your testimony in a significant public debate space..
We could offer you, For now, the following dates : 24 or 30 January ; 12, 13, 19 or 28 FEBRUARY. In any case we are talking about an initiative that will take place 18 h 30 has 21 h.
Waiting for your response, that I wish positive, I remain available for any clarification.
My best regards
Spartacus Puttini
Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Foundation