THE ANATOMY OF A PRAGMATIST POLICY: ITALY’S SEARCH FOR POWER AND STABILITY IN LIBYA

Year 2024, Volume: 26 Issue: 46, 343 - 364, 30.06.2024

Mert Kara , Mustafa Atatorun

Abstract

This article seeks to elucidate how Italy’s Libya policy was formed historically and what were the influencing factors herein from a macro perspective. Accordingly, Italian foreign policy is discussed under titles of colonisation period of Libya, independence and Kaddafi era and post-Kaddafi era. The discussion is made in terms of power and stability, which stand for the two pillars of Italy’s pragmatist policy on Libya. Because, from colonisation until today Italy’s Libya policy has been designated as a search for gaining power and control over this country, and assuring the stability of relations and the country as well. On the one hand, while Italy endeavours to maximise its political and economic interests; on the other hand, being sure about bringing damage to itself, Italy avoids from Libya’s fall into instability and disruption of bilateral relations. At this point, security and migration have been prominent concerns for Italy. As the article deals with Italy’s pragmatism in Libya periodically, it essentially underlines the importance and priority of Libya in Italian foreign policy.

Keywords

Italy , Italian Foreign Policy , Libya , Italy-Libya Relations

PRAGMATİST BİR SİYASETİN ANATOMİSİ: İTALYA’NIN LİBYA’DAKİ GÜÇ VE İSTİKRAR ARAYIŞI

Abstract

Bu makale, İtalya’nın Libya politikasının makro perspektiften tarihsel olarak nasıl şekillendiğini ve hangi faktörlerin bunda etkili olduğunu açıklamayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu doğrultuda İtalyan dış politikası, Libya’nın sömürgeleştirme dönemi, bağımsızlık ve Kaddafi dönemi ve Kaddafi sonrası dönem olmak üzere üç başlık altında tartışılmaktadır. Tartışma ise, İtalya’nın Libya’daki pragmatist siyasetinin iki sütununu temsil eden güç ve istikrar bağlamında yapılmaktadır. Çünkü sömürgeleştirmeden günümüze kadar olan süreçte İtalya’nın Libya politikası, bu ülkede güç ve kontrol elde etme ve ülkenin, aynı zamanda ilişkilerin istikrarını sağlama arayışı üzerine belirlenmiştir. İtalya bir yandan Libya üzerinde ekonomik ve siyasi çıkarlarını azamileştirmeye çalışırken, diğer taraftan kendisine vereceği zararlardan emin bir biçimde Libya’nın siyasi istikrarsızlığa düşmesinden ve ikili ilişkilerin bozulmasından çekinmiştir. Bu noktada, güvenlik ve göç İtalya’nın kaygıları olarak öne çıkmıştır. İtalya’nın Libya’daki pragmatizmini dönemsel olarak ele alan bu çalışma, esasen Libya’nın İtalyan dış politikasındaki önemini ve önceliğini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

İtalya , İtalyan Dış Politikası , Libya , İtalya-Libya İlişkileri

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