Ricerc@Sapienza

A taken-for-granted assumption within the Italian foreign affairs community argues that the relationship between
Rome and Moscow follows a generally cooperative attitude, fostered by strong cultural, economic and political
ties. This narrative misses a significant part of the tale, which is at odds with the idea that the good relations with
Russia are a ‘constant feature’ of Italy’s foreign policy. Indeed, competitive interaction has frequently emerged,
as a number of events in the last decade confirm. To challenge conventional wisdom, the article aims to provide
a more nuanced interpretation of the investigated relationship. Focusing on the outcomes of global structural
changes on Italian foreign policy, it posits that Rome is more prone to a cooperative stance towards Moscow
whenever the international order proves stable. By contrast, its interests gradually diverge from those of its alleged
‘natural’ partner as the international order becomes increasingly unstable. This hypothesis is tested by an
in-depth analysis of Italy’s posture towards Russia amidst the crisis of the international liberal order (2008-on).
Furthermore, the recurrence of a similar dynamic is verified through a diachronic comparison with two other
international orders in crisis, i.e. that of the interwar period (1936-1941) and that of the Cold War (1979-1985).