Editing “strategy of tension” (section)

==Strategy of Tension==

The “strategy of tension” (strategia della tensione) was a covert campaign of state-sponsored terrorism in Italy during the “Years of Lead” (late 1960s–early 1980s), designed to destabilize the country, foster public fear, and prevent the Italian Communist Party (PCI) from gaining electoral power. Orchestrated by elements within Italian intelligence, neo-fascist groups, the [[Propaganda Due P2]] Masonic lodge, and supported by NATO’s [[Operation Gladio]] and the CIA, this strategy exploited Cold War tensions to maintain right-wing dominance and justify authoritarian measures. By staging violent attacks and blaming them on left-wing groups, the perpetrators aimed to create a climate of insecurity, pushing the public to demand stronger government control and reject leftist ideologies.
Historical Context: The strategy emerged amid Italy’s polarized political landscape in the late 1960s, marked by economic struggles, student protests (1968), and labor strikes (Hot Autumn, 1969). The PCI’s growing electoral strength, peaking at 34.4% in 1976, alarmed Italy’s ruling Christian Democracy (DC) party, NATO, and the U.S., who feared a communist-led government in a key NATO ally. The Cold War’s anti-communist fervor, coupled with social unrest, provided fertile ground for covert operations. Operation Gladio, established in 1956 as a NATO “stay-behind” network to resist a Soviet invasion, was repurposed to execute internal subversion, with the CIA providing funding and strategic direction.