The paper aims to investigate the role assigned to state schools in France and Italy in constructing social cohesion and a common citizenship. The theme will be treated by individuating three different stages of a process of progressive mutual rapprochement between state and civil society. From the separatist phase, passing through an intermediate time denoted by a "totalitarian" reaction, to the present time, the paper illustrates the dynamics and the substance of the action of the state as an "educative" actor. In particular, the different characteristics of the French and Italian approaches to civic education will be pointed out by emphasising the different role attributed to the Catholic Church in nation building in the two countries. (Contains 22 notes.)