Political historian, lecturer and author Joseph Pirotta will give a lecture on Thursday to share his views on how Maltese constitutional development was forced to be subservient to the needs of Britain's imperial defence interests.

At the beginning of the 19th century Britain and Malta came together as a result of differing perceived needs.

The British required a strategic naval station and fortress in the Mediterranean while the Maltese sought benevolent paternalism that would ensure their security, stimulate economic growth and allow them to manage their own affairs, Prof. Pirotta explained.

The British, who were always going to be the dominant force in what the Maltese euphemistically thought of as a partnership, achieved their objective from the start.

But unfortunately they firmly believed that, if the efficacy of the fortress was not to be undermined, the Maltese aspiration to local autonomy had to be ignored.

This led to widespread discontent among the Maltese ruling class which became engaged in a political tussle that saw Malta go through a century and a half of constitutional see-sawing.

This constitutional roller coaster was prompted by Britain's reluctance to concede Maltese political demands that was from time to time tempered by the necessity not to erode the Maltese people's loyalty to the Crown and the Empire.

During Thursday's lecture, Prof. Pirotta will elaborate on this historical experience.

The lecture, Malta's Fortress Status An Impediment To Constitutional Development, is organised by the Strickland Foundation and will take place at Villa Parisio in Lija, the seat of the foundation, at 6.45 p.m.