Army, State and Society in Italy, 1870-1915

This title in the series on 19th and 20th century military, naval and air history provides fresh interpretations of existing material and covers strategic, diplomatic, economic and financial issues. After the Unification of Italy, the Italian army faced the tasks of making and defending the nation. Increasingly preoccupied with domestic disorder at home it also struggled to create defences against hostile European powers. At the same time it fought two major colonial wars, and in one of them, suffered a catastrophic and ignominious defeat. Finally in 1915 it entered a war for which it was ill-prepared and in course of which it almost broke. Focusing particularly on the theme of professionalism, this book examines the problems faced by the army during these years, and helps to explain its later receptivity to Fascism. John Gooch has been editor of the "Journal of Strategic Studies" since its foundation and is Chairman of the Army Records Society.