Fascicolo 25 | 2024
Questo numero 25 del Quaderni di Scienze Politiche riflette pienamente la vocazione internazionalista della rivista, nonché l’attenzione per la storia del pensiero politico nei vari Paesi. Infatti, i primi quattro articoli affrontano tutti temi relativi alla realtà internazionale nel suo senso più ampio, mentre l’ultimo esamina in chiave storica un aspetto del dibattito politico-ideologico negli Stati Uniti.
Massimo de Leonardis, Introduzione
Abstract – Most of the articles of number 25 of the Quaderni di Scienze Politiche focus on international relations, dealing with different periods and with various methodological and disciplinary approaches: diplomatic history, history and political science, cultural history and exchanges among civilizations. The topic dealt are: Romania and the Principality of Albania after the Balkan War, the post-Soviet de facto States, the operation of the Italian Navy in the Gulf in 1987-88, the history of coffee in Arabia, the Ottoman Empire, and Persia, and, finally, the
debate between libertarians and traditionalists inside the conservative movement
in the USA.
Alessandro Vagnini, Nei panni di una media Potenza. La Romania e la questione albanese (1913-1914)
Abstract – In October 1912 the outbreak of the First Balkan War would rapidly change the balance of power in South-Eastern Europe. The signing of the Treaty of London, officially putting an end to the conflict, created the conditions for the establishment of the Principality of Albania, whose fate would be partly entrusted to the International Commission of Control. Romania had at first remained neutral but took part in the Second Balkan War from which it emerged not only with the acquisition of Dobruja but also with an increased status as a regional power.
A new status well represented by the Treaty of Bucharest of 10 August 1913. It also raised the question of Aromanian communities, in whose future Romania was extremely interested. Furthermore, questions relating to Albania remained open, both regarding the borders and its future internal structure. Here, Bucharest favoured the accession to the throne of William of Wied, who was relative to the Romanian royal family. During the months of existence of the Principality of Albania, Romania’s commitment was constant and manifested itself through
diplomatic action and finally with the sending of volunteers who were supposed to contribute to the formation of an Albanian Army. This paper intends to reconstruct these events and highlight the role played by Romania in its capacity as a regional power in a particularly complex period of European history, between the end of the Balkan Wars and the first phases of the First World War.
Abstract – What structures of the post-Soviet de facto States have enabled them to persist and develop despite international sanctions and conflicts with their parent States? Why have such entities continued to function even with a weakened patron State? Building on the concept of post-Soviet patronal politics, this article answers these questions in terms of these States’ specific political systems. Through analysis and comparison of the Abkhazian and Transnistrian cases, the author argues that the political systems these entities developed in the 1990s–2010s, as much as patron State support, have given them longevity and resilience. Beyond discussing factors in these entities’ durable existence, the article describes the structure of their political systems, their history and their role in international relations.
Abstract – Thanks to unedited – and hitherto unexamined – ministerial records held at the Fondo Valerio Zanone, the article will describe the decision-making process that led Italy to send the XVIII Naval Group in the Persian Gulf. The military mission – codenamed Golfo-1 – was tasked with minesweeping the trade routes through the Gulf and escorting merchant shipping. The decision to dispatch military units in the area was largely debated between Foreign Secretary
Giulio Andreotti – who firmly opposed the intervention – and Defence Minister Valerio Zanone – who, conversely, was eager to join the Western partners already operating in the Gulf. The research goal is therefore to determine the role and the relevance of the Ministry of Defence in the unprecedented decision to send an Italian naval group beyond the Mediterranean for the first time since WWII.
Elena Maestri, Il caffè nella storia del Vicino Oriente e nella cultura araba
Abstract – This article outlines the history of coffee in Arabia, the Ottoman Empire, and Persia. It discusses the emergence of coffee trade and its impact on the political arrangements and interconnections in these regions, as well as the growing interest of Europeans in this commodity. Tracing the origins of a “coffee culture” that still exists today in the region is an objective. The investigation delves into the social and identity dimension of Arab coffee (gahwa), which is deeply intertwined with the political culture of the Arabs and continues to have significance in the contemporary Gulf Arab countries.
Abstract – Among the most significant debates in the history of the American right and American conservatism is the ongoing discussion about the importance to be attached to freedom and virtue within a given worldview. Exploring this debate is of crucial importance not only for a better understanding of the political and philosophical history of recent decades, but also for an accurate comprehension of the authentic nature and vision of the American conservatism. Indeed, the term “conservative” in the United States has often been misused. Rather than referring to a specific worldview that originated in Europe and matured for a hundred and fifty years before spread in the United States as well, “conservative” has been used to indicate worldviews often with profound differences between them or as an umbrella term for the so-called alliance between “traditionalists”, libertarians, and anti-communists. In recent years, several efforts have been made to restore the original and unambiguous meaning of conservatism in the United States, and the freedom versus virtue debate is crucial to achieving this goal. Finally, this paper will explore the most recent evolutions of this debate and the consequences on the political level.
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