Lucrezia Piterà

The project aims at understanding and explaining the cooperation between Italy and West Germany in addressing political violence and terrorism in historical perspective from 1960 to 1980. It considers how the institutions in particular the ministries of interior, of both nations perceived, defined, and shaped the concept of terrorism, analyzing its development within legal, political, and security contexts. The study then examines bilateral discussions and new cooperation efforts, focusing on "social revolutionary terrorism." Special attention is given to militant groups like the Red Brigades and the Red Army Faction, emphasizing cross-border interactions and shared security concerns. A key part of the research looks at the South Tyrol issue, viewed as a source of political tension in Italian–German relations, and how it influenced diplomatic exchanges and led to novel forms of political and law enforcement cooperation. The understanding of the historical trajectory of this bilateral cooperation will contribute to a better understanding of the current limits and potentials of German-Italian cooperation within the European framework.