Italian cultural diplomacy in Estonia during the interwar period: from the de jure recognition to the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact (1921-1939)

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article aims to trace the influence of Italian cultural diplomacy and its, impact in Estonia starting from the de jure recognition in 1921 to the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact in 1939, the prelude to the Soviet invasion of the Baltic States of June 1940. The cultural relations between Italy and Estonia could be divided into two time periods: the first one, from 1921 to 1931, when Italy tried to establish the foundations of its cultural influence in Estonia; the second one, from 1932 to 1939. In the latter period, the growth of Italian diplomatic influence abroad corresponded to a more precise propaganda project, outlined not only by the Italian diplomatic mission in Tallinn, but also by three key episodes: the Volta Conference in Rome, the establishment of C.A.U.R (Comitati d’Azione per l’Universalità di Roma/Action Committees for the Universality of Rome) in 1932 and 1933 respectively, and the foundation of the Ministry of Popular Culture in 1937.