Fascist Italy and the Middle East, 1933-40

Cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 8
List of Maps and Tables......Page 10
List of Abbreviations......Page 11
Note on Transliteration......Page 12
Acknowledgements......Page 13
Introduction......Page 14
Liberal Italy\'s interests in the Middle East......Page 21
Young Mussolini, \'the Arabs\' and the Middle East......Page 29
Middle Eastern policy during the first decade of Fascism......Page 32
The rise of the pro-Muslim policy......Page 39
Political contacts with Muslim leaders......Page 42
Rome as a bridge between East and West: Cultural dimensions and propaganda......Page 45
Middle Eastern attitudes towards Italy and Fascism......Page 50
Conclusions......Page 52
2 In the Shadow of Ethiopia, 1935–June 1936......Page 54
The Anglo-Italian rivalry and the Middle East......Page 55
Justifying the invasion – Italian propaganda in the Middle East......Page 58
Egypt and the Italian hiding under the bed......Page 65
Odello of Arabia......Page 73
Manoeuvring Yemen......Page 79
The Palestine dilemma......Page 82
Syria, Lebanon and Iraq......Page 86
Conclusions......Page 87
3 The Protector of Islam, June 1936–March 1938......Page 89
The European context of Italy\'s policy in the Middle East......Page 90
The crystallization of the \'Arab policy\' at home......Page 92
Construction of military bases and strategic planning......Page 95
Arms deals and political penetration......Page 97
The Impero in the service of Italy\'s image in the Middle East......Page 105
The propaganda war with Britain......Page 113
Reactions: Is the enemy of my enemy my friend?......Page 117
Conclusions......Page 120
4 Italy and the Arab Revolt in Palestine, 1936–9......Page 122
The tale of the secret fund......Page 123
Enter Musa Alami......Page 125
Attempts to supply arms......Page 130
The search for Libyan saboteurs and indirect military assistance......Page 134
Italy\'s formal position......Page 136
The flexible propaganda tool......Page 140
Arab reactions: Appreciation and scepticism......Page 141
Conclusions......Page 143
5 Unattractive Policies, April 1938–May 1940......Page 146
The Easter Accords and their aftermath......Page 147
Military planning changes course......Page 154
The ebbing of the pro-Muslim policy......Page 157
Antisemitic legislation – race as a factor in foreign policy?......Page 163
The conquest of Albania......Page 165
Last peaceful penetration attempts......Page 167
The Middle East chooses sides......Page 171
Conclusions......Page 174
6 The Optimistic Summer, June–October 1940......Page 176
Ciano\'s attempts to secure territorial guarantees from Hitler......Page 177
Preparing for victory: Plans for a post-war Middle East......Page 180
The Italian-German-Arab triangle......Page 191
The failed Middle-Eastern campaign......Page 195
Conclusions......Page 200
Conclusions......Page 202
Notes......Page 208
Archival Sources and Bibliography......Page 252
Index......Page 265