Edward Hutton and the Anglo-Italian Review. A successful case of Italian cultural propaganda in Great Britain

As the illusion of a short conflict and rapid victory collapsed in the face of mass casualties and a military stalemate, World War I forced the mobilization of all state resources – military, economic and psychological. In this context, propaganda became a principal instrument of control and an essential and systematic weapon in the national armory. Propaganda worked both ways to favorably or negatively influence public opinion on the reason, necessity and justice of the conflict. In exploring institutions, contents, and techniques used by Italian propaganda bureau abroad, the paper focuses on the editorial initiative “The Anglo-Italian Review”, as well as the foundation of Chairs of Italian language at the Cambridge and Oxford Universities. This new approach to the study of Italian propaganda, details the first steps of what later would be called “cultural diplomacy”