The United States, Italy and the Origins of Cold War
Waging Political Warfare, 1945–1950

This international history of the origins of 'cold war' in postwar Europe examines the complex relationship between the United States and Italy.

Kaeten Mistry (Author)

9781316620335, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 11 August 2016

312 pages
23 x 15.3 x 1.7 cm, 0.45 kg

'… an in-depth, comprehensive, and sophisticated look at one of the crucial chapters of the early Cold War as well as of the history of post-World War II Italy … Mistry's work is based on an impressive command of the classic interpretations and new directions in the study of US foreign relations, as well as on a remarkable amount of archival work in US and Italian archives. It also benefits from the author's familiarity with Italian history, politics, and public life … its most significant and original contribution transcends the Italian case and sheds light on how the victory of De Gasperi in the Italian elections of April 1948 led to a widespread, delusional 'perception of success' … Mistry convincingly shows how Italian events generated 'illusions of coherence' and a mystique of political warfare whose implications were felt in larger, more important contexts.' Marco Mariano, H-Italy

This international history of the origins and nature of 'cold war' offers the first systematic examination of the complex relationship between the United States and Italy, and of American debates about warfare in the years between World War II and the Korean War. Kaeten Mistry reveals how the defeat of the Marxist left in the 1948 Italian election was perceived as a victory for the United States amidst a 'war short of war', as defined by influential planner George Kennan, becoming an allegory for cold war in American minds. The book analyses how political warfare sought to employ covert operations, overt tactics and propaganda in a co-ordinated offensive against international communism. Charting the critical contribution of a broad network of local, religious, civic, labour, and business groups, Mistry reveals how the notion of a specific American success paved the way for a problematic future for US-Italian relations and American political warfare.

Introduction
1. Uncertain bonds (1945–6)
2. Catalysts of convergence (1946–7)
3. Italy in American visions (1947)
4. The consolidation of DC-centrists (1947)
5. Means short of war (1946–8)
6. The 1948 election campaign
7. Rocky relationships (1948–50)
8. Organising political warfare (1948–50)
Conclusion
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Diplomacy [JPSD], International relations [JPS], 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], History of the Americas [HBJK], European history [HBJD]