Viewed by the Allies – the image of the CIA in Italy: a study in public perception

Abstract

Public perception differs from historical reality and nothing shows it in a more convincing way than the cases where intelligence services are involved. The image of the CIA in Italy is emblematic in this sense, and the Agency has often been the protagonist of several conspiracies theories in the recent Italian political history. The case study presented and discussed here, the murder of Aldo Moro, illustrates how, in this instance as in others, perception biases and a culture of suspicion have played a key role in shaping the Italian public opinion.