Italian Politics

by Blondel, Jean; Segatti, Paolo

• ISBN13: 9781571816689
• ISBN10: 1571816682
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-10-01
• Publisher: Berghahn Books

Summary

In 2002, the second Berlusconi government, given its parliamentary strength, should have been able to implement its ambitious reform program. This 18th edition of Italian Politics examines the events of that year in light of the opportunities and the domestic and international constraints faced by Italy's center-right government. This volume discusses the actions of the Italian president, the prime minister's function within the cabinet, the overall behaviour of the government vis-á-vis Parliament, majority-opposition clashes in the legislature, foreign affairs, and economic and immigration policy. Moreover, the volume focuses on selected heated issues, including Berlusconi's conflict with the judiciary, reform of the labor market, evolution of banking foundations, and the crisis of Fiat, the nation's largest manufacturing group.

Table of Contents

The Istituto Cattaneo's Internet Site	vii
List of Abbreviations	viii
Chronology of Italian Political Events, 2002	1	(18)
Introduction: The Second Berlusconi Government
Jean Blondel and Paolo Segatti	19	(18)
1. The Second Berlusconi Government Put to the Test: A Year of Complications
Maurizio Cotta and Luca Verzichelli	37	(22)
2. Municipal Elections: Real Change or Simply Alternation?
Gianfranco Baldini and Guido Legnante	59	(19)
3. The Opposition Role of the Center-Left Party
James L. Newell	78	(17)
4. The Ciampi Presidency
Gianfranco Pasquino	95	(17)
5. Legitimate Suspicions? Berlusconi and the Judges
David Nelken	112	(17)
6. The Berlusconi Government's Economic Policy during the First Year of Office
Paolo Onofri	129	(13)
7. The Italian Parliament twixt the Logic of Government and the Logic of Institutions (Much Ado about Something-but What Exactly?)
Giliberto Capano and Marco Giuliani	142	(20)
8. The Bossi-Fini Law: Explicit Fanaticism, Implicit Moderation, and Poisoned Fruits
Asher Colombo and Giuseppe Sciortino	162	(18)
9. Bank Foundations: An Attack Fought Off?
Renzo Costi	180
10. The (Failed) Reform of Article	18	(203)
Aris Accornero and Eliana Como	199	(22)
11. The Berlusconi Government's Foreign Policy: The First 18 Months
Filippo Andreatta and Elisabetta Brighi	221	(16)
12. Fiat: An Italian Crisis
Giuseppe Berta	237	(13)
Documentary Appendix	250	(35)
Compiled by Susy Monica Lelli
References	285	(5)
About the Editors and Contributors	290	(2)
Previous Editions of Italian Politics	292