What fueled Italian aggression in the 1930's? How did Mussolini's Italy fit into the overall strategic and political environment of Europe on the eve of the Second World War?

Questions addressed -
1) What conditions, both underlying and immediate, made Italy's breakout in the 1930s from the post-1918 settlement possible?

2) What were the motive forces behind the expansion and the calculations of the Italian leadership?

3) What options were open to the Western Powers, and why did they choose as they did, and with what results?

The following text was part of a study guide I constructed for the course "The Origins and Conduct of the Second World War" at the London School of Economics. It includes a timeline of notable events.

These notes are extensive, but should only form the basis for further research.