L’Organizzazione del lavoro negli arsenali militari marittimi italiani nei primi anni del Novecento

The paper examines the organizational and productive management of Italian naval dockyards between the late nineteenth century and the Giolittian era, with the aim of understanding the effects of the modernization process that affected the Royal Navy’s shipbuilding activities during this historical period. Through the analysis of printed sources and ministerial documents, the study investigates labor management practices, internal hierarchical structures, and the functional specialization of the dockyards of La Spezia, Naples, Castellammare di Stabia, Taranto, and Venice. The findings highlight how the administrative and technical modernization process initiated during those years enhanced the managerial efficiency of naval arsenals and fostered the development of widespread technical and professional expertise, thereby contributing to the formation of an integrated industrial network linking the public and private sectors. The analysis demonstrates that the naval dockyards constituted a crucial node within the broader process of economic development in liberal Italy.