V. Coralluzzo

Italy and the Mediterranean: Relations with the Maghreb countries

After outlining the trends of Italian Mediterranean politics, this article examines the relationship between Italy and the Maghreb region. As a result of its central geographic position, acting as a natural bridge between Europe and Africa, Italy is undoubtedly more exposed and vulnerable than other countries to any critical developments in the political and economic situation of this area, so it is understandable that it occupies an increasingly important position in Italian foreign policy. Italy has especially considered it in its national interest to make it a specific, high priority to contribute to stabilising this region through multilateral and bilateral initiatives aimed at reinforcing political dialogue and economic cooperation with the coastal countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean. The aim has been to create a safety net around Italian maritime borders against the risks posed by an uncontrolled increase in migration (to which Italy is more exposed than other countries), the instab...

Italy's foreign policy toward China: missed opportunities and new chances

Abstract This essay provides an account of the erratic and troubled history of the relations between Italy and the Peoples Republic of China since the 1950s. After reaching their highest point in the two years immediately following the Tiananmen events – when Italy, more than any other Western country, worked to break Chinas international isolation – they have considerably frozen for a long time. The reason has to be found not only in the crisis that, since 1992, has overcome the Italian political system, but even more so in the structural limits of Italys economic foreign policy and in the lack of a coherent strategy aimed at promoting Italian goods in world markets that provide huge opportunities – opportunities mostly neglected by the political-economic Italian establishment. The Berlusconi government replaced this negligence with fear-mongering behavior and recurring and outspoken protectionist remarks of various centre-right leaders, who feared the potential damage caused by Chinas increased competitiveness (which represented, in their opinion, an unfair trade practice) to the national industry. Though too recent to say if it will bear fruit, Prodi has made a desperate attempt for Italy to make up lost ground by leading to China what has been emphatically defined ‘the greatest institutional and business mission ever organized by Italy’ just a few months after his comeback to Palazzo Chigi.

Sneaking Under Cover: Assessing the Relevance of Passports for Intelligence Operations

Stefano Musco is a doctoral candidate in Social and Political Change at the University of Turin, Italy. In 2015, he was a visiting Ph.D. student at the Universities of Malta and Copenhagen. His research interests focus on the foreign policies of small states, strategic studies, and intelligence. Mr. Musco is the author of Storia della Spionaggio Antico. Teoria e Strategie di Intelligence dagli Albori all Caduta dell’Impero Romano (History of Espionage in the Ancient World: Theories and Strategies, From the Dawn of Civilization to the Fall of the Roman Empire; Rome: Aracne, 2014), and I Microstati nel Sistema Internazionale, Considerazioni Politiche e Strategie di Sopravvivenza (Microstates in the Internationa System: Political Consideration and Survival Strategies; Perugia: Morlacchi, 2015). He received his M.A. in International Relations from the University of Perugia.