Description

Ethiopia was not Mussolini's preferred target in the early 1930s. His expansionist ambitions gravitated more towards the Balkans, and Yugoslavia in particular. But diplomatic and military realities, the pressure of an emerging fascist rival, and Italy's own weakness forced his attention towards East Africa as an alternative. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Gooch, John Mussolini and His Generals Cambridge University Press, 2007
2. Mallett, Robert Mussolini in Ethiopia, 1919-1935: The Origins of Fascist Italy's African War Cambridge University Press 2015
3. Kallis, Aristotle A. Fascist Ideology: Territory and Expansionism in Italy and Germany, 1922-1945 Routledge 2000
4. Bosworth, RJB Mussolini's Italy Penguin Group 2005
5. Bosworth, RJB Mussolini Oxford University Press 2002
6. Whittam, John Fascist Italy Manchester University Press 1995
7. Morgan, Phillip Italian Fascism 1919-1945 St. Martin's Press 1995

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