GUIZOT, CAVOUR E IL QUARANTOTTO DUE VISIONI POLITICHE A CONFRONTO

This paper examines the political relations between two great statesmen, which culminated in a political conflict at the beginning of the fateful year of 1848. Although Count Cavour had admired François Guizot in his youth, Cavour’s political mission was in contrast with French foreign policy. At the start of Cavour’s political career with the foundation of Il Risorgimento, he produced articles that harshly criticized Guizot’s political conduct with respect to Italy. Cavour’s absolute priority was to create a unified State, and it was essential that France be involved in the process. Despite this, Guizot gave no support to Piedmont. While the political career of Guizot descended to an unstoppable demise, Cavour’s ascended as he masterminded, and subsequently achieved, a diplomatic stroke of genius. This marked the opening of a personal and political gap that separated the pragmatic Piedmontese leader behind Italian unification and the influential French politician.