Italy: an aspiring Mediterranean middle power wavering between bilateralism and multilateralism

Lili Takács,Anna Molnár

doi:10.5752/p.2317-773x.2020v8n2p47-69

Abstract

Italy managed to be an important actor in European affairs, its status as major power was several times called into question. Italy’s domestic political instability, the frequent government crises, severe economic and financial problems hinder the country’s goal to become a recognized middle power, especially in the Mediterranean region. Bilateral and multilateral tools are used alternately by government coalitions to carry out foreign policy which has been dominated by migration. Due to the afore-mentioned internal problems security and defence policy is not capable of supporting foreign policy to the necessary extent.

Highlights

Ever since the end of World War II – but more from the Risorgimento – Italy always tried to be recognized as a real European power, preferably equal to France and Great Britain, its goal has been entering the restricted club of decision maker major powers
Managed to be an important actor in European affairs, its status as middle power was several times called into question
Even though Italy managed to be an important actor in European affairs, its status as major power was several times called into question

Summary

Introduction

Ever since the end of World War II – but more from the Risorgimento – Italy always tried to be recognized as a real European power, preferably equal to France and Great Britain, its goal has been entering the restricted club of decision maker major powers. The Second Republic of Italy plunged into a deepening internal and external, political and financial crisis in 2011 From this period on, Italian foreign and security policy’s priorities focused explicitly on dual crisis management: addressing the financial-economic problems and challenges posed by illegal migration. Anna Molnár e Lili Takács Italy: an aspiring mediterranean middle power wavering between bilateralism and multilateralism an Italian proposal and to the active role of High Representative Mogherini, the EU decided to enlarge the scope and budget of Triton; to start EUNAVFOR MED joint military operation and to elaborate the main pillars of common migration and asylum policy. The bilateral handling of illegal migration is strengthened by the fact that the new government coalition explicitly made migration a national security issue

Libro bianco della Difesa

Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico

12. Military missions with Italian participation 2018-2019

Findings

Conclusion