This edited collection offers the first systematic account in English of Italy's international position from Caporetto a major turning-point in Italy's participation in the First World War to the end of the liberal regime in Italy in 1922. It shows that after the 'Great War', not only did Italy establish itself as a regional power but also achieved its post-unification ambition to be recognised, at least from a formal viewpoint, as a great power. This subject is addressed through multiple perspectives, covering Italy's relations and mutual perceptions vis-à-vis the Allies, the vanquished nations, and the 'New Europe'. Fourteen contributions by leading historians reappraise Italy's role in the construction of the post-war international order, drawing on extensive multi-archival and multi-national research, combining for the first time documents from American, Austrian, British, French, German, Italian, Russian and former Yugoslav archives.

Explores the importance of Italy's role in the international order after World War I Brings new research to an English-speaking readership, drawing on archival research from Italy, France and the former Yugoslavia, and secondary research not accessible in English Argues that Italy both established itself as a regional power and achieved its post-unification ambition to be perceived as a great power in Europe

Autorentext

Antonio Varsori is Professor of History of International Relations at the University of Padova, Italy. He is also a member of the Commission for the Publication of Italian Diplomatic Documents at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Among his most recent publications are Radioso Maggio. Come l'Italia entrò in guerra (2015), Storia internazionale. Dal 1919 a oggi (2nd edition, 2020) and, with Annalisa Urbano, Mogadiscio 1948. Un eccidio di italiani fra decolonizzazione e guerra fredda (2019).

Benedetto Zaccaria is currently a research grant holder at the Department of Linguistics and Comparative Cultural Studies, Ca' Foscari University, Venice, Italy. He specialises in the History of International Relations, with a focus on the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Among his publications are The EEC's Yugoslav Policy in Cold War Europe, 1968-1980 (2016), La Strada per Osimo. Italia e Jugoslavia allo specchio (1965-1975) and, with Antonio Varsori (eds), Italy in the International System from Détente to the End of the Cold War: The Underrated Ally (2018).

Inhalt

1. How to Become a Great Power: Italy in the New International Order, 1917-1922. Antonio Varsori.- Part I: Italy and the Allies .- 2. Lloyd George, Italy, and the Making of a New World Order, 1916-1922. William Mulligan.- 3. Italy through British Eyes, 1919-1920. Giulia Bentivoglio.- 4. France and Italy in the Making of a New Central Europe, 1918/1922: Cooperation and Rivalry. Frédéric Dessberg.- 5. Wilson's Parallel Diplomacy: The American Red Cross and Italian Public Opinion, 1917-1919. Daniela Rossini.- 6. The King's Diplomacy from World War I to its Aftermath. Andrea Ungari.- Part II: Italy and the Vanquished Nations .- 7. Italy and Austria, 1918-1920: Overcoming Hereditary Enmity. Maddalena Giutto.- 8. Betraying the Allies? Italy, Hungary and the Béla Kun Intrigue. Valentine Lomellini.- 9. Public Optinion in the Weimar Republic and the Image of Post-War Italy, 1918-1922. Monica Fioravanzo.- Part III: Italy and the New Europe .- 10. Searching for a Policy forthe New Europe: Italy and the Eastern European Settlement at the Paris Peace Conference. Francesco Caccamo.- 11. Encroaching Visions: Italy, Yugoslavia and the Adriatic Question, 1918-1920. Massimo Bucarelli and Benedetto Zaccaria.- 12. Italy: The View from Moscow from 1917 to the Rise of Mussolini. Elena Dundovich.- 13. Italy Faces the Birth of the League of Nations. Italo Garzia.- 14. A Mutilated International Order. Georges-Henri Soutou.