Italy
A Difficult Democracy: A Survey of Italian Politics

Italy is the world's sixth economic power, lies in a key geopolitical position, and was a founding member of NATO and the European Community.

Frederic Spotts (Author), Theodor Wieser (Author)

9780521315111, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 April 1986

344 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.465 kg

Italy is the world's sixth economic power, lies in a key geopolitical position, and was a founding member of NATO and the European Community. Yet of all the major European states Italy is the least understood and studied. This book provides the only up-to-date survey of the Italian political scene during the forty years since World War II. It describes the inner-dynamics of the political parties, the day-to-day functioning of the governing institutions, and the interaction of the country's economic, social, and political life. It shows how a political system, riven with difficulties and seemingly in a continual crisis, survives and prospers - in some ways more successfully than its purportedly better-governed neighbours. Based on the authors' first-hand observations of Italian politics, the book offers a valuable insight into a subtle and complex, but fascinating political world.

1. the Political Context
2. The Christian Democrats: The Indispensable center
3. The Communists' struggle for legitimacy and acceptance
4. The ambiguous role of the Socialists
5. The small parties: The lay forces and the extremes
6. Parliament, prime minister and president
7. Public administration and sottogoverno
8. The administration of justice
9. Dangers to the state: Plots, terrorism, and the mafia
10. Economic and social transformation
11.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP]