Nations Behind Transnationalism: State Power and the Allegiances of Italian-Tunisians, 1920s–1940s

This article examines the intricate historical currents that shaped the conflicting allegiances of Italian-Tunisians during the interwar years. Marked by multilingualism and cultural hybridity, these communities expressed radical forms of nationalist identification with their country of origin. Through an exploration of the diverse sociocultural facets of the Italian-Tunisian communities and their intricate interplay with the Italian state’s involvements in Tunisia, the article analyzes the mechanisms underlying the paradoxical coexistence between nationalism and transnationalism. The article shows that these divergent traits had common roots in the sociopolitical position occupied by Italian-Tunisians in the context of interwar Tunisia. Consequently, these Italian-Tunisian communities emerge as the basis for a rich case study, shedding light on the possible alliances and mutual reinforcement that can occur between national political projects and migrant transnational social formations.