New Politics of Italy

Twenty years after the Tangentopoli corruption scandal, the dissolution of the ruling Christian Democrat party, the emergence of a major new centre-right party and the introduction of a new electoral system, Italy continues to face many of the same social, economic and political problems as before. The dominant discourse has been of a Second Republic, emerging in the 1990s, which was to have delivered major constitutional reform and a more representative relationship between politicians and voters. Since this has not happened, Italy is now said to face transition to a Third Republic.

Paul Furlong argues that in fact there has been no Second Republic, only a period of dissolution. He tracks the continuities with the First Republic as well as the major institutional changes in Italian politics, society and political economy since 1994, analysing how and why the Second Republic has gone missing and what can be done about it. He argues that a Republic founded on commitment to European integration needs to find a new way of dealing with Europe and that many of the positive values of the First Republic social equality, representative democracy, pluralist citizenship and regional diversity must be reclaimed for Italy to regain confidence on the European and world stage.

La douazeci de ani de la scandalul de coruptie Tangentopoli, dizolvarea partidului crestin-democrat de la guvernare, aparitia unui nou partid major de centru-dreapta si introducerea unui nou sistem electoral, Italia continua sa se confrunte cu multe dintre aceleasi probleme sociale, economice si politice Ca inainte. Discursul dominant a fost cel al unei a doua republici, care a aparut in anii 1990, care trebuia sa ofere o reforma constitutionala majora si o relatie mai reprezentativa intre politicieni si alegatori.