South Tyroleans: Austrians Or Italians?

South Tyrol, an autonomous province in northern Italy, has a complex history of shifting borders and cultural identities. Once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, South Tyrol was annexed to Italy in 1919 after World War I. While South Tyroleans are citizens of Italy, the region's population is predominantly German-speaking, and many residents identify with both Italian and German-Austrian traditions, creating a unique blend of influences. This dual identity is essential to how South Tyroleans see themselves, as they embrace Italian benefits while maintaining their Alpine traditions and language. Some South Tyroleans desire independence from Italy or reunification with Austria, but most do not want to leave Italy, despite the region's raw history.

The impact of Mussolini's Italianisation policies

Mussolini's Italianisation policies had a profound and lasting impact on South Tyrol. The region, annexed by Italy in 1918 or 1919, was inhabited by a large German-speaking majority—almost 90% according to some estimates. In 1922, the Fascist regime charged Achille Starace and Ettore Tolomei with driving a programme of Italianisation. Tolomei's "programme in 23 points" included the exclusive use of Italian in public offices, the closure of most German schools, and incentives for immigrants from other Italian regions to settle in South Tyrol.

In 1923, Italian place names were made official by decree, and the German name "Tyrol" and its derivatives were banned. German newspapers, publishing houses, clubs, and associations were forced to rename, and the German language was banned in schools, courts, and public offices. German teachers were dismissed or transferred to the south, and degrees from Austrian or German universities were only considered valid with an additional year of study at an Italian university.

In 1939, Mussolini and Hitler agreed to give the German-speaking population of South Tyrol a choice: they could emigrate to neighbouring Germany or stay in Italy and accept complete Italianisation. This agreement caused deep divisions within South Tyrolean society. Those who chose to stay, known as "Dableiber", were condemned as traitors, while those who left, "Optanten", were defamed as Nazis. The outbreak of World War II meant that the agreement was never fully implemented, but it left a painful legacy of hostility and division between the two language groups.

After World War II, attempts at Italianisation were abandoned, and South Tyrol was granted autonomy in 1972. Today, South Tyrol is a peaceful and thriving province, enjoying a high degree of autonomy and strong relations with the Austrian state of Tyrol. However, the legacy of Mussolini's Italianisation policies continues to shape the region's complex identity politics.

The South Tyrolean separatist movement

The South Tyrolean independence movement is a political movement in the Italian autonomous province of South Tyrol that calls for the region's secession from Italy and reunification with the State of Tyrol, Austria. The movement has its roots in the historical and cultural association of the region with neighbouring Austria, as well as the German-speaking majority population in South Tyrol.

The earliest activism for South Tyrol's removal from Italy emerged in the 1950s with the South Tyrolean Liberation Committee, which conducted bombings of Italian infrastructure and fascist monuments. The most notable incident was the Night of Fire on 12 June 1961, when a large electrical supply unit was destroyed via explosives. This was followed by a series of bombings and ambushes on security forces, with the most notorious attack occurring in 1967 at Cima Vallona.

In the 1980s, a far-right terrorist organisation called Ein Tirol emerged, following in the footsteps of its predecessor by executing explosive damage to various relics of Italian fascism and historic memorials. Since then, Ein Tirol has taken on a less prominent and violent role in the independence movement.

Several political parties advocating South Tyrol's secession have gained prominence, including South Tyrolean Freedom, Die Freiheitlichen, and Citizens' Union for South Tyrol. These parties hold seats in the South Tyrolean Provincial Council and advocate for the region's right to self-determination.

The movement has been fuelled by tensions over the fair treatment and acknowledgement of minority-language speakers, despite their protection being cemented by law. Additionally, Italy's financial crisis has inflamed old resentments, with Rome's demand for South Tyrol to contribute financially to bolster the national budget going against the region's autonomy agreement.

The Federation of Historic South Tyrolean Riflemen, known as the Suedtiroler Schuetzenbund, has long campaigned for reunification with North Tyrol in Austria through marches and demonstrations in traditional Tyrolean dress.

Polls conducted in 2013 noted that 46% of South Tyrol's population would favour secession from Italy, while more recent polls by the Austrian research institute Karmasin show that 54% of German or Ladin-speaking South Tyroleans would support secession. The movement continues to be a significant aspect of the local and national political climate in the region.

The region's multilingualism

South Tyrol, an autonomous Italian province, has a complex linguistic history. The region was annexed by Italy in 1919, after being part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As a result, the area has a large native German-speaking population, with German being the first language of 57.6% of the population as of the 2024 census. Italian speakers make up 22.6% of the population, and are mainly based in and around the two largest cities, Bolzano and Merano. The region is also home to a smaller community of Ladin speakers, who make up 3.7% of the population.

The multilingualism of the region is reflected in its naming conventions. The official German name for the province is 'Autonome Provinz Bozen — Südtirol', while the Italian name is 'Provincia autonoma Bolzano — Alto Adige'. The Ladin name is 'Provinzia autonoma Bulsan — Südtirol'. The term South Tyrol is commonly used in English, and reflects the region's history as part of the County of Tyrol.

The multilingualism of the region is also reflected in its administration. The province is divided into eight districts, each with its own president and governing bodies. The province is further divided into 116 municipalities or 'comuni', of which 102 have a German-speaking majority, eight have a Ladin-speaking majority, and six have an Italian-speaking majority.

The rights of the German-speaking minority were recognised in an agreement between Italy and Austria in 1946, which led to the creation of the Trentino-Alto Adige/Tiroler Etschland region. German and Italian were established as official languages, and German-language education was permitted. However, as Italians were the majority in the region, self-governance for the German minority was not possible. This agreement also led to the establishment of a strict quota system for the distribution of public jobs, which takes into account ethnic belonging according to the census.

Despite these measures, tensions between the language groups persisted. Schools are separated according to the mother tongue of students, leading to integration problems among the different communities. Efforts have been made to improve relations, with many parents choosing to send their children to German middle schools and Italian high schools so that they learn both languages.

The complex linguistic history of South Tyrol has shaped the region's culture and politics, with calls for secession from Italy and reunification with Austria still prevalent among some groups.

The South Tyrolean identity crisis

South Tyrol, a province in northern Italy, has been part of the country for almost 100 years. However, many of its residents still don't feel Italian. The region was annexed by Italy in 1918, at the end of World War I, and has a complex history of language, culture, and political tensions.

Language and Culture

South Tyrol is Italy's richest province, with the highest GDP per capita in the country. The region is officially bilingual, with German and Italian as its two main languages. According to the 2024 census, 57.6% of the population used German as their first language, while 22.6% spoke Italian. The unique linguistic and cultural identity of South Tyrol has been a source of tension and conflict over the years.

History

Historically, South Tyrol was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until it was annexed by Italy. The Italianization of the region began under Benito Mussolini's fascist regime in the 1920s and 1930s, with German being banned in schools, courts, and public offices, and place names being Italianized. Mussolini also encouraged Italians from the south to settle in the region, leading to demographic changes.

Political Tensions

Autonomy and Taxation

South Tyrol was granted autonomous status in 1972, giving it a high level of self-government and allowing it to retain 90% of its tax revenue. However, recent demands by the Italian government for South Tyrol to contribute more financially to the national budget have inflamed old resentments and given new life to the separatist movement.

Challenges and Opportunities

In conclusion, the South Tyrolean identity crisis is a complex issue with historical, cultural, and political dimensions. While South Tyrol is officially part of Italy, many of its residents feel a stronger connection to Austria and the Tyrolean identity. The region's unique status and ongoing tensions highlight the challenges of maintaining a unified national identity in a diverse and multicultural society.

The province's autonomy

South Tyrol, an autonomous Italian province, has a considerable level of self-government. It is the northernmost province in Italy, characterised by a territorial autonomy and a peaceful cohabitation of German, Italian and Ladin language groups.

The Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozen is part of the Autonomous Region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, which is one of five Autonomous regions with a special statute in Italy. The Autonomous Region holds significant legislative and executive powers, which are devolved to the two Autonomous Provinces of Bolzano/Bozen and Trentino.

The South Tyrolean autonomy model is considered one of the most successful power-sharing arrangements in the world, thanks to its far-reaching autonomous powers and its implementation mechanism. The model is designed to regulate the balance of power between South Tyrol’s language groups with language equality measures, reserved positions, executive proportionality, public service employment proportionality and public funding proportionality.

The South Tyrolean government is the executive body of the autonomous province, enforcing the provincial laws as written by the provincial council. The government has its seat in the capital city of Bolzano. The local government system is based on the provisions of the Italian Constitution and the Autonomy Statute of the Region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The government is headed by a governor, referred to as the "State Captain" in German. The members of the government are elected by secret ballot with an absolute majority in the Landtag. The composition of the cabinet must reflect the proportion of the German, Italian and Ladin language groups.

The South Tyrolean autonomy model has been advanced as a successful example of settling interethnic disputes and protecting linguistic minorities. The extensive self-government provided by the current institutional framework allows the entity to retain almost 90% of all levied taxes.

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