Abstract

The essay critically analyses the role of the president of the republic in terms of Italian foreign policy, focusing on the presidency of Giovanni Gronchi (1955-1962) and his attempts to acquire a more active place in Italy’s international profile. Gronchi’s main attempts to change Italy’s foreign policy line failed. Despite this, the Gronchi presidency served as a model for subsequent presidents (both of the first and second Italian republic), who increased the president’s connection with foreign affairs. This research is based on a critical review of the existing literature and unpublished archival sources