This chapter analyzes the socio-political strategies underlying the militarization of Sardinia, emphasizing the mechanisms of modernization and consensus building. It explores key institutional dynamics that facilitated the establishment and expansion of military bases. The chapter traces the historical evolution of these installations and examines how they were framed as solutions to poverty and underdevelopment through modernization rhetoric, while often disregarding their social, environmental, and economic consequences. The narrative highlights the role of the local press in shaping public opinion about military bases, from enthusiastic portrayals of modernization to critical reporting on health and environmental risks. A detailed ethnographic content analysis of over 1600 newspaper articles reveals shifting public attitudes, from initial support framed by modernity-versus-tradition narratives to rising concerns about military servitudes, contamination, and public health crises such as “Quirra Syndrome.” By connecting local and global contexts, the chapter sheds light on the tensions between regional aspirations for autonomy and broader geostrategic interests. The findings underline the dual role of the media in legitimizing and challenging militarization, setting the stage for subsequent chapters that delve deeper into resistance and impacts on Sardinian communities.