This work investigates the extent to which the Italian Navy functioned as an instrument of Mussolini's aggressive foreign policy and expansionist ambitions during the lead-up to the Second World War. Robert Mallett, a specialist in European diplomatic and military history, utilizes archival records and naval planning documents to argue that the Regia Marina was not merely a defensive force but a central component in the regime's efforts to challenge British and French hegemony in the Mediterranean. The text examines the intersection of naval modernization, strategic planning, and the ideological imperatives of the Fascist state.

Historians and military scholars frequently cite this work as a critical examination of the intersection between naval strategy and totalitarian foreign policy. The text is noted for its rigorous use of primary source material to challenge traditional views of Italian naval passivity during the interwar period.