Italy through British Eyes, 1919-1920

The outcome of the First World War posed significant challenges to Italy, which emerged with dramatic strength during 1919–1920: a mix of internal political weakness, economic distress and social turmoil upset the country. The analysis of British diplomatic documents offers a fresh perspective of the Italian crisis and reveals new aspects of this neglected topic. Through the lens of British papers, we can acquire new elements in order to understand to what extent domestic and foreign policy were connected and how Italy, as an international actor, was perceived in London, precisely at the peak of its internal crisis when the danger—whether real or perceived—that the country could be on the verge of revolution reached its highest point.