Page 134 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 11(2) (2023)

cepts. This, however, prevents methodological al- Nevertheless, this achievement could not sup-
teration and limits exploration of the plurality of press expansionist desires and prevent the emer-
political, social, economic and cultural elements gence of fascism. For the former Austrian terri-
operating in the multi-ethnic and multilingual tories – Trieste with its wider surroundings and
environment of Istria (Pelikan 2012). Histori- Istria – the new geopolitical reality had different
cal interpretations influenced by a political-ideo- consequences. Firstly, Mitteleuropa’s econom-
logical prism or treated by a specific generational ic interests ceased gravitating towards Trieste.
group seeking to create a discourse with which a There followed a transition from the precise and
particular segment of the population will identi- flexible Austrian state bureaucracy to Italian ad-
fy, are more prone to anachronism or fabrication ministration with its Bourbon customs and rig-
and are therefore less relevant. We must there- idly vassal relationship with the state apparatus.
fore be guided by transnational historiography Meanwhile, there was a rapprochement of the lo-
134 that understands the reasons for the asymmet- cal capitalist circles with the militarists and the
ric treatment of individual historical actors and irredentist national liberal oligarchy, which as-
tries to move away from stereotypical and sim- serted its anti-Austrian, anti-Slavic and anti-so-
studia universitatis hereditati, letnik 11 (2023), številka 2 / volume 11 (2023), number 2
plistic representations of historical events and re- cialist line (Steffè 1978, 13–38). The new gov-
alities (Verginella 2012). A comprehensive scien- ernment had repercussions on all aspects of the
tific analysis of the facts and the search for clues area’s social life, but above all it radically changed
within a precise time frame allow us to find so- its cultural image. This was evident in the man-
called event details and as yet unknown inter- ifestation of power through symbolism, embod-
stices in the micro-stories that could lead us to ied in public commemorations and the erection
further understand the impact of a local phe- of buildings with symbolic value.
nomenon on the macro level and vice versa. The A clear example of the latter is the erection
focus here is on ‘contact’ defined by the demar- of a monument to the Istrian seafarer Nazario
cation and coexistence of regional and national Sauro in Koper. Sauro was born in Koper on 20
identities, and political and economic systems, September 1880. Prior to World War I, he was
etc. As an example, consider the history of sym- employed as captain of a small steamer called San
bols in the public space of an environment where Giusto by the Koper maritime company, sailing
different national identities are in contact with regularly between Koper and Trieste. Sauro of-
each other. The dominant ideological or social ten expressed his sympathy for the Kingdom of
elite used public space to shape individual and Italy through minor provocations aimed at the
collective identity. Symbols used in such an en- Austrian authorities, but above all, he had regu-
vironment are an effective means of visual com- lar contact with the Italian consulate in Trieste.
munication and create a distinct national-spatial During the July Crisis in 1914, at the outbreak of
identity. These influences, based on a precisely World War One, Sauro’s employment with the
structured narrative of the past, serve to objecti- maritime company Capodistria was terminat-
fy national identity (Schama 1996). ed, partly because of his unruly behaviour and
With the signing of the Rapallo Treaty be- partly because of his anti-Austrian stance (Sauro
tween the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slo- 2017, 111–112). Many prominent Austrian-Italian
venes (SHS) and the Kingdom of Italy, and the political representatives of the liberal-nationalist
establishment of the new border in November camp emigrated to Italy in the summer of 1914.
1920, the political reorganization of the terri- Nazario Sauro expressed the intention of enroll-
tory of the Julian March and Istria was tempo- ing his son in a school in Udine as an excuse to
rarily closed. With the annexation of Trento obtain a passport that would allow him to cross
and Trieste, Italy achieved the much-desired na- into Italy. Despite the general mobilisation, the
tional unity and integrity after World War I. Austrian authorities allowed him to leave be-