NATO and its opponents. Mobilization and protest movements against the North Atlantic Alliance in Italy during the Cold War (1949-1989)

• Main Author: Andrea Guiso
• Other Authors: Guiso, Andrea
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Aracne 2024
• Subjects: NATO; Cold War; Italian Communist Party; Italian foreign policy; Protest movements; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1714861

During the Cold War, Italy was a stage for significant mobilization against NATO. The Atlantic Alliance, established to counter Soviet influence, encountered a complex environment in Italy, marked by a strong communist presence and pacifist movements. The protests were fueled by ideological opposition to American imperialism and concerns about national sovereignty and the risk of involvement in a nuclear conflict. Numerous demonstrations, strikes, and awareness campaigns characterized the activity of groups opposing NATO, involving left-wing political parties, trade unions, and civil society. This climate of contestation influenced the internal political debate and posed a constant challenge for Italian governments, forced to balance foreign policy needs with the pressures of domestic public opinion