Abstract

In giving an account of the historiography on Italy's relations with the «Third World», the article proposes an interpretation of how the conception of Italy's role and scope of action has evolved, highlighting the many blank spaces in the literature. The essay also emphasizes the role of Italy's objectives and economic constraints, points to the growing importance of the European framework within which Italian policies have developed, and invites us to focus on political actors and on the symbolic meaning of the debate on the developing countries in defining Italy's international identity.