Research: Nigeria in Italian Foreign Policy: Strategies, Crises, and Opportunities (1960-1970)
The research project aims to examine the political and economic relations between Italy and Nigeria during the 1960s, a crucial period both for Italy and for the African continent undergoing decolonization. In those years, Italy struggled to develop a structured African policy, focusing mainly on its former colonies and North African countries. However, there was an increasing need to safeguard Italian interests in Nigeria and to establish closer relations with Africa's most populous nation.
The central focus of the study is the analysis of the policies and strategies adopted by Italy toward Nigeria during a historical moment marked by profound political and social transformations. The initiatives of private actors partly offset the weakness of Italy's institutional presence. Before independence, Italian businesses led by emigrants were already active in the African country. From the 1960s onwards, major industrial groups such as Eni, Fiat, Mediobanca, and Impresit also entered the scene. These actors were key in fostering economic ties and establishing an Italian presence within the Nigerian context.
Special attention will be given to the energy sector, as Nigeria emerged as one of the leading oil producers, and to crises that marked bilateral relations, such as the tragic Biafra massacre of May 1969, during the civil war, which involved Italian employees of Eni.
The study intends to explore the interactions between the political and economic dimensions, outlining how these influenced Italy's strategic choices. To this end, the analysis will be based on extensive archival documentation from Italian institutions, including the Central State Archive, the Historical Archive of the Presidency of the Republic, and the Historical Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Additionally, sources from the corporate archives of ENI, Fiat, and Mediobanca, which testify to the commitment of the Italian private sector in Nigeria, will be fundamental.
In summary, the project aims to provide an in-depth view of Italian-Nigerian relations in the 1960s, contextualizing historical dynamics within a broader global framework.