Il potere aereo e la Regia Aeronautica nel primo dopoguerra. Profili strategici e aspetti diplomatici, 1919-1932

This essay explores the swift progression of military aviation from the end of the Great War until the eve of the World Conference on Disarmament in 1932 with a focus on the international context and strategic thinking. The advent of aviation markedly reshaped defense systems and global security perceptions, notably the threats posed by air warfare to civilian populations. Despite the inherent humanitarian consequences, strategic thinkers championed the effectiveness of air bombardments for both military and political objectives. These discussions culminated in (unsuccessful) proposals for the abolition of air bombardment and the regulation of both military and civilian aviation. Nevertheless, they posed a significant challenge to Italian Air Minister Italo Balbo’s at-tempts to strengthen the independence of the national Royal Air Force, which was born in 1923. In his view, military aviation was an inexpensive tool for deterrence and coercion, particularly valuable for economically constrained nations like Italy, thereby enhancing its strategic capabilities amidst an increasingly competitive international scenario.