Italian Colonial Policy in the Economic Sphere in Libya (1911–1943): Motives, Objectives, and Consequences

Abstract

This article examines Italian colonial policy in the economic sphere in Libya during the period 1911–1943 by analyzing the motives that shaped this policy, the objectives that Italy sought to achieve, the mechanisms adopted by the colonial administration to implement its economic project, and the consequences of this policy. The Italian occupation of Libya constituted part of Italy's colonial expansion in the Mediterranean. Its objectives were not limited to political and military control but also extended to placing Libyan economic resources under the control of Italian interests.

The Italian colonial administration adopted an economic policy based on controlling agricultural lands, promoting Italian settlement, and reorganizing commercial and productive activities in accordance with the needs of the Italian economy. It also established a number of economic projects and infrastructures that were primarily linked to its colonial and settlement objectives.

The article also examines the effects of this policy on various economic sectors, particularly agriculture, which underwent profound changes as a result of land confiscation and the transfer of ownership to Italian settlers. It further analyzes its impact on trade and industry, as well as its economic and social repercussions on the Libyan population.

The study concludes that Italian economic policy in Libya was not a project aimed at achieving independent economic development. Rather, it served as a means of consolidating colonial domination, exploiting the country's resources, and integrating the Libyan economy into the Italian colonial system throughout the occupation period.