ABSTRACT
Chapter 5 discusses the Italian historical approach to terrorism, focusing on the key moments of its domestic and foreign policy linked to the counterterrorism fight. Specifically, the chapter demonstrates how the most dangerous domestic terrorist experiences in Italy were, in different ways, linked to the situation in international affairs during the Cold War. Details of the fight against extreme-right and extreme-left terrorism during the “years of lead” are presented, along with the Italian “sanctuary approach” developed in the late 1980s with respect to international terrorism. The discussion emphasises implications and problems of this differentiating approach towards terrorism(s). Finally, the chapter displays the current systems of power distribution within Italy. It sheds light on the relationships among actors responsible for the fight against terrorism at different levels, revealing, on the one hand, a widespread investigative capacity and, on the other, a stronger cooperation among politicians, intelligence experts, and military personnel in processes of substantive decision making.
