Dualisms and identity in the history of italian sea - Frascani’s book is implicitly related to the historical problem of the economic, social and cultural dualism which has marked Italian history in the last few centuries . Through an accurate reconstruction of national maritime history, both productive developments and symbolical processes once more betray their contradictions and ambiguities. construction of a unique national character is one more time depicted as ambiguous and partial. The dynamics of political power and its disciplining impact are reexamined with new insights: the sea, a theme always presented as a factor of unity and conciliation by the "Belpaese" rhetorical tradition, becomes a somewhat disturbing subject requiring further historical analysis.
Keywords: Sea, Italian dualism, economy, discipline, Mediterranean.