Theory and reality in the vision of Adriano Olivetti

This article describes and analyses the ideas and activities of the Italian industrialist, Adriano Olivetti (1901-1960). Although by most interpretations of the term philanthropy, Olivetti would be considered a philanthropist, Italians have not viewed him in that way, and outside of Italy his ‘philanthropic’ work has not received the attention it deserves. In this article the theory and praxis of Adriano Olivetti are analysed in order to shed light on two significant issues in the study of philanthropy generally: first, the basic problem of the applicability of the concept in different cultural contexts; and second, a related question about the borderlines between philanthropic, third sector activities and political activities, and how these borders may shift or even disappear under certain conditions of time and place.