The ‘mighty pen’ as a political tool : some insights from the writings of Dom Mintoff

Abstract

Dom Mintoff (1916–2012) is a defining political figure in postcolonial Malta. Throughout his political career, he energised his followers through fiery rhetoric interspersed with innuendo and vulgar references. Such rhetoric has been extensively examined in various scholarly contributions including those by Boissevain (1976), DeBattista (2012 and 2017) and Zammit (2012). Less attention has been given to his written output in various newspapers and publications, stand-alone pamphlets and edited booklets. His memoir was published posthumously in 2018. Such writings, often written in elegant English prose, reveal a different aspect of Dom Mintoff’s public life. Within the study of political science, such autobiographical writings offer a subjective perspective which can lead to a more objective analysis of people, places and events. This study examines a selection of writings written by Dom Mintoff over a period spanning over forty years. Such writings, often peppered with autobiographical references, offer a unique view of ‘the world surrounding the self’ (Lee, 2009). It hopes to provide an insight into a yet-understudied aspect of Dom Mintoff’s political life.