Spazio vitale

It was defined in universal terms as "that part of the globe over which extends either the vital requirements or expansionary impetus of a state with strong unitary organization which seeks to satisfy its needs by expanding beyond its national boundaries".

[1]: 46  Fascist ideologist Giuseppe Bottai likened this historic mission to the deeds of the ancient Romans, stating that the new Italians will "illuminate the world with their art, educate it with their knowledge, and give robust structure to their new territories with their administrative technique and ability".

[1]: 46 As such, the ideological purpose of spazio vitale included the exportation of revolutionary fascism to replace the native political systems in order to civilise the conquered peoples into colonies of Fascist Italy.

The Fascist ideologist Giuseppe Bottai said that the historic mission of spazio vitale was like that of Ancient Rome (753 BC – AD 476), and that the New Rome—the Italian Empire—would "illuminate the world with their art, educate it with their knowledge, and give robust structure to their new territories with their administrative technique and ability".

Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina were valuable to Italy because of their timber reserves, cattle herds, and their rich deposits of carbon, lignite, iron, copper, chrome, manganese, pyrites, antimony, and mercury.

[2] Pariani in discussion with Hungarian officials repeated Mussolini's arguments that the Italian Army could militarily intervene against Yugoslavia and cross over its territory to seize Romania's oilfields and prevent a Soviet advance into the Balkans.

The Italian Empire to be realized within the policy of spazio vitale . Dark red indicates the Italian mainland and actual Italian protectorates and colonies, light red indicates the territories that were occupied by Italian troops during World War II, and beige indicates the territories of the projected Imperial Italy.
According to the Italian Fascist ideologist [ a ] Giuseppe Bottai (pictured), spazio vitale justified Italian colonialism in Europe and Africa.
The Italian empire before WWII is shown in red. Pink areas were annexed/occupied for various periods between 1940 and 1943. Italian concessions and forts in China are not shown.