In search of the roots of the Unione Politica Maltese (U.P.M.) : religion, identity and social consciousness

Abstract

The origins of Malta’s national consciousness make for a troubled story. Various claims are advanced from time to time about Malta’s historical figures, with certain characters dropping out of prominence, others underrated and new ones discovered. In this paper, I would like to study the characters of a number of individuals and analyse how their thinking and ideas influenced Malta’s political thought. A rough genealogical line can be traced showing how political principles and ideas have been handed down from generation to generation. The genesis of a number of present-day Maltese politicians can be traced back to the distant past, and I think it can be shown that Edward Fenech Adami, in whose honour this book is being published, has his political ideals and leanings rooted in the origins of Maltese politics and the initiatives of some of its pioneers.