Gianfranco Pasquino is Professor of Political Science at the University of Bologna.

• Preface -- Introduction: A Case of Regime Crisis -- The Christian Democrats: A Party in Crisis -- The Italian Communists Divide—and Do Not Conquer -- The Italian Socialist Party and the 1992 General Election -- Facing the Test of the Ballot Boxes: The PRI, PLI and Greens in the 1992 Elections -- The Electorate of the Lega Nord -- The Anatomy of Change -- Electing the President of the Republic -- Politics Almost as Usual: The Formation of the Amato Government -- Conclusion: Inching Towards a New Regime -- Appendix: Election Results