The Resistance as a second Risorgimento: a never-ending rhetorical topos? The article examines the long history of the rhetorical topos of the Resistance as a Second Risorgimento. The topos, though criticised in certain contexts, became a potent means of packaging the national/patriotic aspects of the partisan war. Although its popularity began to decline from the 1970s onwards, it is striking how the Resistance as a Second Risorgimento continues to enjoy success, even today.
Keywords: Resistenza, Risorgimento, memoria, retorica, storiografia, uso pubblico della storia.