’With unprecedented access to military officials and documents, the authors have compiled a thorough analysis of the early 21st century transformation of the Italian armed forces - one unlikely to be surpassed. It details changes in military strategy and budgets and provides accounts of major Italian military operations, from Afghanistan to Libya. Particularly valuable are the comparative dimension - with well-researched discussions of the French and British experiences - and a theoretical framework that highlights learning, innovation, and institutional change.’ Matthew Evangelista, Cornell University, USA ’Over the last two decades, the Italian armed forces have been heavily involved in multiple missions abroad and yet continue to suffer from domestic indifference and scholarly neglect. Therefore, this insightful volume provides a much needed contribution to the study of defence transformation. From doctrine to budget, from operational experiences to force structure, Fabrizio Coticchia and Francesco Moro lead us in an engaging way through the complexity of Italian defence policy reform, drawing on multiple fresh empirical sources. They provide a nuanced and perceptive analysis and argue that mission requirements and operational experiences triggered multiple layers of change with profound implications. Based on a stimulating comparison with the United Kingdom and France, this is an important addition to the scholarly literature on contemporary Western war-making.’ Pascal Vennesson, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
