Factors contributing to the Italian position in the years of the establishment of Airbus Industrie

Do the politicians actually take decisions, or rather the experts do it in their place? In other words, it is a matter of understanding whether the political stakeholders/representatives simply approve the final stage of a decision procedure led by the experts they have delegated, since they lack cognitive skills or because the experts do not try enough to explicit potentials and risks involved. this research paper aims at investigating the reasons behind the Italian decision of not undertaking a collaborative venture in the direction of a European industrial base for aviation between the 1960s and 1970s. to this effect, the following issues will be tackled: why does Italy not join the Airbus Industrie consortium? Why does Italy continue to have US technology transferred through license agreements instead of breaking away from the American supply and creating a European interdependence? The research paper provides an overview of the context wherein Italy develops its position, with particular regards to the assumption that a national aeronautical industry could not be separated from defence industry and international relations. this work is structured into three parts: the first gives a general overview of the birth of Airbus; the second addresses an overview of the Italian aeronautical context in the aftermath of the World War II (WWII); the third tackles the discussion and studies made by the government on the “Italy vs Airbus” case, having also regards to the industry position.