Italy and the End of the Cold War

The end of the Cold War brought radical changes to the Italian political system that had taken shape at the end of the Second World War. Moreover, the conclusion of the bipolar confrontation had significant repercussions for Italy’s foreign policy. This chapter examines the choices made by the Italian government in response to four major issues that emerged in international politics at the end of the Cold War: German reunification, the Gulf War following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, the Yugoslav crisis, and the process of European integration culminating in the Maastricht Treaty. An analysis of how the Italian government dealt with these issues highlights its difficulties in confronting the complex challenges posed by the emergence of a new international order. © 2027 selection and editorial matter, Umberto Gentiloni Silveri and Andrea Mammone; individual chapters, the contributors.