[Strategic Cultures in Europe:] Italy

Italy’s strategic culture has been partly re-shaped by the shock of World War II, which caused the collapse of the Fascist regime and the Savoy ruling monarchy, as well as a civil war. However, it maintains several elements of continuity with pre-World War II strategic culture, such as the importance attached to the Mediterranean region. Italy’s strategic culture has not been monolithic over the last 65 years. It rather experienced a gradual shift of minority views converging on the main strand analysed in this chapter.