Overview

First published in 1977, The Politics of the Italian Army provides a comprehensive overview of the role played by the army in Italian history and politics from 1861-1918. Divided into three major parts the book attempts to do three things: to observe some of the familiar sights of nineteenth and early twentieth century Italian history from a slightly different viewpoint; to enquire into why one of the least militaristic of societies has been plunged periodically into aggressive wars by the deliberate action of its governments; and finally, to provide an account of civil military relations in Italy for use in comparative studies. The author discusses themes such as the First War of Independence; Fanti and the creation of the Italian army; the consolidation of the army; the army and the crisis of the late 1890s; the Libyan war and non-intervention. This is an important historical reference work for students and scholars of Italian history, military history and political history of Europe.

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9781032945101

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“Since there are no studies in English on the Italian army, this is a useful survey because it gathers scattered bits of information into one volume. John Wittham’s thesis is that the army played an important, sometimes preponderant, role in the history of Italy between 1861 and 1918. In order to support this contention, he stresses the use of the army to tame the South and Sicily in the 1860s and in the 1890s. He also concentrates on the reforms of Generals LaMarmora and Fanti, both of whom collaborated with conservative politicians to oppose Garibaldi’s concept of the nation-in-arms and to create a trustworthy professional army.” - Charles L. Bertrand, The American Historical Review, Volume 83, Issue 1, February 1978, Page 206.

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