Terroristi o rifugiati? Il dibattito storiografico sulla mancata estradizione francese dei latitanti italiani degli “anni di piombo”

This article aims at presenting, analysing and discussing the ways in which international historiography has dealt with the non-extradition of Italian fugitives in France during the Years of Lead. After a general overview of the main historiographical issues, the text examines the role that the so-called Mitterrand Doctrine played in the principal scientific fields where this topic was addressed: legal and terrorism studies. Also, it evaluates to what extent and in what manner Italian and French historiography grappled with this question, highlighting contradictions, difficulties, and challenges. The article concludes that it is still lacking a specific and systematic reconstruction of this subject, despite overwhelming attention from protagonists and the media. There are promising signs, however, that young and more experienced historians are now ready to use new approaches, methodologies and sources to produce detailed and scientifically accurate analyses of this complex and controversial chapter of contemporary European history.