Italian leaders openly framed their switch of alliances as a "sacred egoism" – a divinely appointed mission to enlarge the fatherland. This concept sacralized raw national self-interest, providing a moral justification for betraying former allies and pursuing a war of conquest.

While most WWI belligerents framed their involvement as a defensive necessity for "Hearth and Home," Italy was transparently opportunistic. Its leaders openly admitted they were not defending themselves but attacking for conquest and glory, making it arguably the most acquisitive campaign of the war.

Lacking a parliamentary majority for war, Prime Minister Salandra executed a masterful political maneuver by resigning. This dared the king to appoint an anti-war successor amidst orchestrated street protests. Fearing civil unrest, the king was forced to reappoint Salandra, effectively greenlighting Italy's entry into the war.

Despite widespread public opposition, the Italian government used celebrity poet Gabriele D'Annunzio to ignite war fever. His impassioned, quasi-religious speeches created a frenzy among a vocal urban minority, pressuring politicians and the king into a war the majority of the population did not want.

The harsh terms of the First Punic War, which stripped Carthage of territory and imposed a massive indemnity, created deep resentment. This parallels the Treaty of Versailles with Germany, illustrating how overly punitive settlements can sow the seeds of a future war of revenge rather than secure lasting peace.

Italy's blatant negotiation with both sides of WWI to secure the best territorial deal earned it contempt from its new allies. Winston Churchill called Italy the "harlot of Europe," and Prime Minister Asquith described it as "voracious, slippery, and perfidious," highlighting the deep cynicism behind their alliance of convenience.

Contrary to the belief that war worsens inequality, the expert argues severe inequality is a primary cause of war. It fosters desperation, leading populations to elect demagogues who promise salvation but often resort to conflict, as seen with the rise of Hitler during Germany's deflationary depression.

Europe's journey from global conqueror to self-destructive continent in the World Wars left a collective trauma. This history makes it deeply hesitant to embrace the centralized power and nationalist will necessary to become a superpower, a mindset the US doesn't share.

As a newly unified country, Italy lacked a strong national identity. Leaders cultivated a sense of grievance and "unfinished business" over its border with Austria, a concept known as irredentism. This became a powerful political tool to weld the new nation together against a common enemy.