Search for Leadership and Fear of Hegemony
Italy’s Perspective on West Germany in the 1970s
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7150902 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lucrezia Ranieri (0009-0004-8363-8081, University of Siena, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 35 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Contemporary European History (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0960-7773 • E-ISSN: 1469-2171 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s0960777325100866 |
| OpenAlex | W4411227163 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 2 |
This paper explores Italy’s perspective on West Germany’s evolving role in Europe in the 1970s, focusing on the interplay between leadership expectations and the fear of hegemony. In the context of the collapse of the Bretton Woods System, the oil crisis and transatlantic tensions, Italy viewed West Germany as both a potential leader and a dominant economic power. By examining political and public debates, this study delves into Italy’s complex ambivalence towards German leadership – admiring its economic strength while simultaneously fearing its influence over European integration and monetary policy – in a way that demonstrates a nuanced Italian reaction to German ‘reluctance’. The rejection of Germany’s hegemonic role was closely tied to an expectation of leadership. However, this expectation conflicted with the type of leadership Germany offered, revealing a sharp contrast between Italian and German conceptions of leadership
Art · Hegemony · Political science · Politics · Visual arts · Communism, Protests, Social Movements · European history and politics · Historical Geopolitical and Social Dynamics · History · Law
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |