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L'Italia e la politica internazionale. Edizione 2008

30/06/2008

The ninth edition of the IAI /ISPI Yearbook is devoted to international relations in 2007. The first part goes over developments on the international scene which, with respect to the previous year, mark a return to the traditional competition between great powers. In particular, Russia seems once again to aspire to the role of great power, causing tensions in relations with the United States. The realignment of international politics along more traditional lines has also allowed Europe to regain a space for itself. Another issue that characterised 2007 was nuclear proliferation, both horizontal and vertical. Two contributions focus on the Greater Middle East: one is more general, aimed at identifying new initiatives in the region; the other deals with the Israelo-Palestinian question. Another chapter looks at the private military and security companies operating around the world, a phenomenon that requires regulation.
The second part centres on Italian foreign policy and Italian missions abroad, now a stable component of Italy’s external action. The UN, NATO and the EU continue to represent the leitmotiv of Italy’s foreign policy, allowing the government to maintain a delicate balance from the Israelis and the Palestinians and to play a mediating role in the Lebanese crisis. The third part is dedicated to the European Union, with the usual institutional chapter as well as others on defence policy and the controversial question of Turkey’s entry into the EU. A significant event in 2007 was the signing of the Lisbon Treaty, which was meant to put an end to the crisis triggered by the lack of ratification of the Constitutional Treaty. The fourth part explores the difficulties in the international financial system brought on by the sub-prime mortgage crisis and possible remedies. An essay focuses on global warming. The fifth part closes the Yearbook with a study of the most important area crises: besides the Israelo-Palestinian conflict, the Yearbook concentrates on Kosovo, Burma and Pakistan.

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