"Between Economics, Politics, and Geopolitics. The Privatization of Italian Telecom"

My proposed poster will present research on the privatization of Italian telecommunications between the late 1980s and 1990s, a subject largely overlooked by historiographical scholarship yet emblematic of the broader wave of European privatizations during the late 20th century. The analysis is framed around three key determinants – economics, politics, and geopolitics – which had contrasting and controversial effects on the privatization process. Yet, they were common factors in guiding the industrial adjustment that many European countries were pursuing with their State-owned enterprises.
From an economic perspective, privatization aimed to improve efficiency and drive technological innovation, positioning the sector for survival in increasingly competitive and liberalized global markets. Politically, it addressed the need to reduce public financial constraints, resulting in reduced state control but raising concerns over the governance of strategic industries. Geopolitically, the tension was twofold: on one hand, privatization risked undermining national security by relinquishing control over key strategic assets, such as telecommunications infrastructure and high-tech defense manufacturing facilities; on the other hand, the Italian government sought to bolster the competitiveness of its national industry, especially in strategic sectors, within the context of a liberalizing European market, navigating the complexities of cooperation and competition with fellow EEC/EU members.
My research explains how these often opposing forces shaped a decade-long transformation in the telecommunications sector, situating the Italian case within the broader context of European privatization. Furthermore, it draws on newly available archival evidence to shed light on a topic that, despite its significance, has received limited historiographical attention and has been a point of public debate in Italy for over thirty years. The poster will visually display key phases and factors of the privatization process, offering a comprehensive overview of the forces at play.