Suchergebnisse

This chapter focuses on Italy and the intra-alliance dynamics developed by Italy around the adoption and implementation of the dual-track decision of December 1979. In particular, it describes how, starting from a marginal position, sanctioned by the exclusion of the Italian government from the quadripartite summit held at Guadeloupe in January 1979, Rome managed to heighten its political relevance as an Atlantic partner thanks to its status as a non-nuclear weapon state. In fact, in accepting to deploy the so-called Euromissiles on its territory, Italy not only guaranteed the necessary conditions for West Germany's accession to that NATO decision; it also actively participated in Western European efforts to overcome the American initial resistance to pursue the arms control track with the same determination devoted to the nuclear build-up.

Exploring the visions of the end of the Cold War that have been put forth since its inception until its actual ending, this volume brings to the fore the reflections, programmes, and strategies that were intended to call into question the bipolar system and replace it with alternative approaches or concepts. These visions were associated not only with prominent individuals, organized groups and civil societies, but were also connected to specific historical processes or events. They ranged from actual, thoroughly conceived programmes, to more blurred, utopian aspirations — or simply the belief that the Cold War had already, in effect, come to an end. Such visions reveal much about the contexts in which they were developed and shed light on crucial moments and phases of the Cold War