To what extent did Mussolini succeed in fulfilling the aims of his foreign policy?

The aims of Mussolini's foreign policy can be aptly summed up in his own words: to make Italy 'great, respected and feared'. He consistently tried to secure this reputation for Italy, but his methods changed as international currents did. In the 1920s, when international relations in Europe were more conciliatory, Mussolini tried to achieve 'respect' by cooperating with other nations. He joined the League of Nations, and signed the Locarno Treaty, for example. However, in the 1930s, as international peace began to crumble he became far more aggressive, and sought to achieve 'greatness' by increasing Italy's imperial gains by invading Abyssinia in 1935. He also allied himself with other fascist powers and left the League of nations. Such actions were attempts to make Britain and France fear Italy's power, and encourage them to make concessions to him.

On balance, however, none of Mussolini's tactics were successful. Even in the 1920s, signs of Mussolini's aggression like his bombardment of Corfu (1923) meant he was never seen as truly committed to stability. Though Britain and France tried to appease Mussolini over Abyssinia at first, they did so not out of fear of him, but of Germany gaining an ally. They never feared him enough to give him concessions in the Mediterranean. Mussolini also never gained respect with Hitler, who never kept the Italian leader updated (e.g. over Anschluss in 1938). Mussolini also proved he was in Hitler's pocket at the Munich Conference of September 1938 by pushing a German agenda. Meanwhile, expensive endeavours in Spain and Abyssinia ruined the Italian economy, so it could not achieve the status of a 'great' nation.