This volume brings together specialists from a broad range of academic disciplines and research traditions, each contributing the distinctive perspectives of their respective fields. Geopolitical scholars, international relations specialists, economists, geostrategists, academics, and strategic analysts-from both Italy and abroad-share the conviction that the Global Mediterraneans have emerged as maritime geopolitical systems of increasing global significance. Collectively, their contributions provide an interdisciplinary understanding of these maritime systems and of the strategic dynamics that increasingly define them.
The Global Mediterraneans inevitably command the attention of both regional and extra-regional navies. From a military perspective, the Global Mediterraneans constitute the only operational theatres in which every operational domain may realistically become contested simultaneously. In such environments any future confrontation could display unprecedented levels of operational complexity across the maritime, land, air, space, cyber, and cognitive domains. The Global Mediterraneans share another defining characteristic. They are progressively assuming the characteristics of increasingly Narrow Seas as advances in precision strike capabilities, long-range weapon systems, and pervasive surveillance continue to compress the operational environment.
This evolution already requires the development of new strategic concepts, operational doctrines, tactics, procedures, and technologies that will profoundly shape the future development of naval forces and defence industries alike.