EUROPE: Common Men

In a Europe that is steadily congealing into collectivism, a middleaged, roly-poly, red-haired Italian is successfully preaching the gospel of individualism. His message: the future belongs not to the politicians but to uomo qualunque (the common man). Last week a stream of converts—horny-handed artisans, lacquered Army officers, silk-stockinged girls, broad-veiled nuns, clerks and plain common men— were beating a path up a back street of Rome to the house of the prophet.

Guglielmo Giannini, ex-theatrical producer, was deeply gratified. Expansively he placed the number of his followers at 2,000,000. Disavowing all parties (“We look to them to control our doings with never-ending vigilance lest we too make fools of ourselves”), Uomo Qualunque looked as though it might become one of Italy’s biggest parties itself.

Week after week, in his weekly Uomo Qualunque (TIME, Sept. 24), Editor Giannini proclaims the word with rising fervor. “It is my son’s loss [in the war] that makes me hate politicians’ interference. From my sorrow was born the idea of Uomo Qualunque. Bereaved fathers will always understand each other if politicians do not interfere.” Uomo Qualunque’s circulation rose on this rhetoric to 800,000, Italy’s highest.

Right or (Left. Last week orthodox politicians were turning a baleful eye on Giannini’s “U.Q. Front.” The Communists called him “a reactionary profiting from the prevailing confused state of mind.” Replied Giannini briskly: “We highly respect the Communists’ views, but we disagree. . . . Given freedom from professional politicians, I don’t care whether we go right or left.”

Probably it was true that ex-Fascists and other dubious influences had flocked to Giannini’s all-embracing banner; certainly Italian big business was uncommonly attracted by Giannini’s opposition to “bureaucratic control.”