Italy Today: Facing the Challenges of the New MillenniumItaly Today is a concise narrative of the nation's stunning transformation from the ashes of World War II to the leading economic and cultural power it is today. This book provides insights into the dynamics of Italy's progression from the Second World War, through the anthropologically revolutionary 1970s and '80s, and into the complexities of a postindustrial nation, negotiating the challenges created by industrial, economic, and cultural globalization. Encompassing the cultural, political, and economic spectrums, topics include: communism; socialism; foreign relations; terrorism; industrial and social transformations; education; emigration and immigration; family tradition; feminism; the transformation of class and gender roles; political favoritism and corruption; popular culture; culture and civil society; the broader problems of the development of civil society and the rule of law in southern Italy; and the role of politics in shaping contemporary Italy. The book devotes particular attention to the controversial issues of the role of the family in Italian society and economy, the insidious presence of the Mafia, the lasting influence of Catholicism, the impact of television, and the country's often unstable politics, framing all these as the result of a complex and unique relationship between the individual and the state, with the family acting as intermediary. Four major sections analyze politics, the economy, society, and mass culture, and comprise a portrait of contemporary Italy that will appeal to a broad range of scholars, students, and general readers. |
Contents
ITALIANS | 13 |
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL FOUNDATIONS | 31 |
Government in a MultiParty System | 45 |
DECISIVE TURNING POINTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL | 61 |
DANGERS TO THE STATE | 85 |
Overview | 123 |
THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY | 131 |
INDUSTRIAL CHANGE AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION | 157 |
SECULARIZATION OF STATE AND SOCIETY THE CATHOLIC | 263 |
FAMILY TRADITION AND CHANGE | 293 |
WOMEN AND GENDER RELATIONS | 319 |
81 | 320 |
w | 340 |
Communications and Cultural Changes | 343 |
COMMUNICATIONS REVOLUTION AND CULTURAL | 373 |
A MORE OPEN SOCIETY | 403 |
38 | 159 |
Table of Contents | 162 |
Italys Industrial Mix | 168 |
Between EU and the Regions | 174 |
The South and Its Representation as Other | 181 |
An American Study That Reinforced the SouthNorth Divide | 187 |
Modernization Without Much Economic Change | 194 |
The Dawn of a New | 201 |
EMIGRATION MIGRATION IMMIGRATION AND SOCIAL | 207 |
Society | 231 |
Common terms and phrases
activities agricultural American areas became become Catholic changes Christian Church cities Communist companies competition continued created cultural democratic early economic effects elections emigration especially established Europe European fact Ferrari firms force foreign groups growth housing immigrants important increased individual industrial institutions interest Italian Italy Italy's labor land language Left less living major mass million movement needs northern official organization parties period political popular population position practice problems production programs reforms regions relations remained result role Rome sector social society southern strong structure success television tion traditional unions United vote Western women workers