Between 1923 and 1943, the Dodecanese Islands were part of the Italian Kingdom under the unique regime of "Possession." Rome's planning was not limited to establishing a forward outpost on the maritime routes of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Bosporus, but also aimed, through the assimilation of the population and infrastructure development, to create a model territory that would serve as a propaganda tool for Italy's presence in the East, especially as a "reborn" (i.e., fascist) Italy.

The study by Ioannis Contakis explores the actions of the local Italian authorities and their relationship with the broader ambitions of the homeland. The decisions of the four governors (Lago, De Vekki, Bastico, and Cambiotti) in areas such as economy, education, culture, urban planning, tourism, colonization, religion, armed forces, and administrative organization are analyzed both in terms of their objectives and their final outcomes.

Research is supported by archives located in Rhodes, Athens, and Rome, which provide a valuable inside view of how the involved parties, primarily the Italian one, shaped—and also evaluated—their policies regarding the Dodecanese Islands.