Conclusion

Abstract

Fascist Italy was not a nominal member of the League of Nations: it was fully involved in the organization’s work for more than 15 years, with Italians holding key positions. Until the Ethiopian crisis, it was a problematic member mainly at the institutional level of the Secretariat, but not at the political level. The League played an important role in Italy’s foreign policy: internationalism legitimized Italian nationalism as well as reinforcing Fascist colonial claims. At the same time, nationalism reinforced internationalism: the League needed Italy as a member state in order to increase its prestige and legitimize its existence. This book uncovers the depth and variety of interactions between nationalism and internationalism in the case of Italy at the League, showing how the two influenced each other.