Lab Coats, Turncoats and Sugar-Coating: Italian Science and Its U.S. Patrons at the Dawn of the Cold War: Italian Science and Its U.S. Patrons at the Dawn of the Cold War

During the post-war years Italy’s main organizations for scientific research, the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), benefitted tremendously from the European Recovery Program. US sponsorship enabled its administrators to purchase new laboratory equipment and scientific literature thus encouraging the recovery of Italian science after WW2. Yet a closer look at the CNR archival documents reveals these benefits to offset controversial features. Involved in the processes of negotiating key agreements catering for sponsorship were scientists who had been prominent in the Fascist regime. Moreover, only some of the recovery funds were distributed according to assistance needs, while a significant portion of these resources were eventually diverted to defense research projects in fields like telecommunications, aeronautics, geophysics and meteorology. These circumstances were not fortuitous as the ensuing Cold War persuaded US officials about the need to prioritize research to improve defense coordination in these important areas, while overlooking the past responsibilities of several Italian scientists previously loyal to the regime.