Italy and Tito’s Yugoslavia in the Age of International Détente

Massimo Bucarelli teaches History of International Relations and Diplomatic History at the Department of History, Society and Human Studies, at the University of Salento (Lecce).
Luciano Monzali is Associate Professor of History of International Relations at the Political Sciences Department in the University of Bari «Aldo Moro».
Luca Micheletta is Associate Professor of History of International Relations at the University of Rome «Sapienza».
Luca Riccardi is Full Professor of History of International Relations at the University of Cassino and Lazio Meridionale.

World War II and East-West confrontation redefined borders between Italy and Yugoslavia, reshaped national frontiers and adversely affected political relations. As a result, major quarrels and disputes arose over territorial claims, demarcation of State boundaries, expulsion of national minorities, and diverging visions on international and domestic politics. It was only in the 1960s and 1970s, during the years of Détente, that rapprochement between Rome and Belgrade became possible and normalization of bilateral relations was attained. Long-lasting territorial disputes, such as the Trieste question, were solved and bilateral relationship greatly improved, so much so that Belgrade became an important asset in Italy's Balkan and Adriatic strategy, while Rome was a sort of bridge between Socialist Yugoslavia and Western Europe.
This book is intended to shed light on the process of Italian-Yugoslav normalization and rapprochement, which ultimately brought to the Adriatic Détente. Based on a wide collection of primary sources and documentary materials, it aims to contribute to a better understanding of the history of the Adriatic region, a conflicted European space that had been affected by territorial disputes and ethnic strife for decades during the 20th century.

After years of territorial disputes, political quarrels, and ethnic hatred, Italy and Yugoslavia made a great effort to settle long standing border questions and enhance bilateral relations in the framework of Détente, which resulted in great mutual advantage in terms of political stability, regional security and economic cooperation.

Contents: Ivan Lakovic: From London to Osimo. American Attitude to Yugoslav-Italian Settlement of the Trieste Question - Aleksandar Zivotic: The Soviet Union and Yugoslav-Italian Détente (1968-1973) - Stanislav Sretenovic: French Diplomacy and the Road to the Osimo Agreements - Gorazd Bajc: Great Britain and the Italian-Yugoslav Relations in the 1970s - Alberto Basciani: Romania and the Rapprochement between Italy and Yugoslavia - Luca Micheletta: Italy and Albania in the Era of Détente. A Tacit Alliance - Raoul Pupo: A Mistaken History? A Survey of the Short Century of Italian-Yugoslav Relations - Luca Riccardi: Italian Foreign Policy in the Years of Détente. Ideas and Actions of Amintore Fanfani and Aldo Moro - Luciano Monzali: Aldo Moro, Italian Ostpolitik and Relations with Yugoslavia - Massimo Bucarelli: Détente in the Adriatic. Italian Foreign Policy and the Road to the Osimo Treaty - Sasa Misic: A Difficult Reconciliation on the Adriatic. The Yugoslav Road to the Osimo Agreements of 1975 - Viljenka Skorjanec: The Contribution of Slovenia to the Osimo Treaty - Darko Dukovski: Croatia and Italian-Yugoslav Relations. The Issues of Demarcation Line, Minority and Property Rights (1943-1983) - Patrick Karlsen: The Italian Communist Party's Policy on Trieste as Viewed by Vittorio Vidali (1954-1975) - Diego D'Amelio: Imperfect Normalization. The Political Repercussions of the Treaty of Osimo - Fabio Capano: Resisting Détente. The Associative Network and the Osimo Treaty.