“From Russia”: Anna Kuliscioff’s Articles in the Italian Newspaper “Avanti!” (1881-1882)
Anna Kuliscioff’s articles under the general title “From Russia” are published firstly in translation from Italian. These are three texts from thirteen ones written in 1881-1882 in Imola (Italy). The articles were printed operatively in the Italian Socialist newspaper “Avanti!” (editor Andrea Costa). Anna Kuliscioff actively participated in the Narodnik (Populist) groups in the South of Russia in 1870s, before her emigration. In Italy, she became a prominent figure in Socialist movement. The articles reflect the situation in Russia in the early 1880s, when the Emperor Alexander II was assassinated and Alexander III ascended the throne. Anna Kuliscioff introduces Italian readers to the reaction of various groups of Russian society to the events of March 1, 1881. Special attention is paid to the characteristics of the revolutionary movement, its goals, the policy of the autocracy in relation to the “seditious people”, the socio-economic situation, the living conditions of the poorest population, and protest activity in the Russian regions. Data from Russian and foreign newspapers and fragments of documents are provided. Activity of Populists is represented as an adequate response to the standard of living of the majority of the Russian people. Anna Kuliscioff characterized the internal policy of the Russian autocracy exclusively in a negative way. The author clearly indicates his own position of support for the revolutionaries, including their practice of terror. Anna Kuliscioff tries to form a positive image of the “nihilists” and to evoke sympathy for them from Italian readers.