Freer when constrained? Italy and transatlantic relations during the cold war

Since the end of WWII, Atlanticism has always been one of the lodestars of Italy’s foreign policy. Although the country’s relations with the U.S. have never been disputed, its degree of autonomy from the Transatlantic partnership has changed over the years. This article delves into such changes starting from a counter-intuitive analytical framework based on the neo-realist theory of International Relations. Such perspective can help explain Italy’s unexpected autonomy in certain periods of the cold war. Accordingly, the article reexamines two historical events: Italy’s elusive conduct during the negotiations of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Achille Lauro/Sigonella crisis in 1985.