Turkish-Italian relations in the interwar period

Abstract

This thesis scrutinizes the relationship between Turkey and Italy in the interwar era on the basis of the bilateral diplomatic and economic contacts. In the light of the specific goals of both Turkish and Italian foreign policy of the time, the mutual positions of these two states are analyzed through comprehensive historical narration. In this sense, this study aims at displaying Rome’s implementation of the mare nostrum policy, which was the fundamental element of interwar Italian foreign policy, on Turkey, through different methods depending on the conditions and the needs of the various epochs. In this way, it also shows the identifier nature of these aforementioned methods on the various periodizations for the Turkish-Italian relations. As a response to the Italian aims over Turkey, this thesis argues that Ankara, which regarded Italy as the foremost threat to Turkish territory, positioned Turkish foreign policy vis-à-vis Italy. Therefore, it is suggested that Italy was the major determinant of the Turkish foreign policy, in terms of its decisions, orientations, and the initiatives, especially in the 1930s.