This project addresses mimicry and identity signalling among individuals and groups between 1969 and the early 1980s in Italy. During that period the available data records an impressive number of groups signing violent acts of political nature, and an equally impressive number of unsigned acts of political violence attributed either to the right or the left. Moreover a great deal of signatures claim only one or two actions. On the basis of this evidence the period seems to be a very interesting ground to analyse:

1. The choice to sign or not to sign violent political actions;

2. Once the choice to sign is made how to authenticate the signature and protect it from predatory behaviour from rival or competing groups. The choice to claim an act of political violence, far from being exclusively a clear identity signal, can be the instrument to increase confusion, to take advantage of others reputation, or to pursue signalling strategies between groups, ie accreditation for recruiting and/or infiltration;

3. On the other hand the choice not to claim an act of political violence may go beyond the logic of “no claim no blame”, and, according to specific circumstances, can also be an act of strategic mimicry in order to shift blame, as much as its opposite, ie identity signalling of a widespread revolutionary potential.

Research Team: Dr Valeria Pizzini-Gambetta