Andrea Mammone is a Lecturer in Modern European History at Royal Holloway, University of London, UKErcole Giap Parini is Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Calabria, ItalyGiuseppe A. Veltri is a Lecturer in Research Methods at University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

• Introduction Andrea Mammone, Ercole Giap Parini and Giuseppe A. Veltri Section I : Old and new tensions in the contemporary Italian society 1. A New Southern Question? Iain Chambers, Università degli Studi di Napoli L’Orientale 2. Cultural Values: Differences Across Italian Regions Giuseppe A. Veltri, Leicester University 3. Emigration and Italy: A Continuing History? Guido Tintori, Leiden University and Michele Colucci, Istituto di studi sulle società del Mediterraneo, CNR 4. Racism in Italy: Carl Levy, Goldsmiths, University of London 5. Role and Perceptions of Women in Contemporary Italy Elisabetta Ruspini, Università di Milano Bicocca 6. Youth’s Condition Gianluca Argentin, Università di Milano Bicocca 7. "Mafie:" A National Phenomenon Ercole Giap Parini, Università della Calabria Section II : Democratic life and institutions 7. Institutions and the Political System: a Story of Failure Martin Bull, University of Salford 8. The (missing) renewal of the political class Luca Verzichelli, Università di Siena 9. Media, Politics and Society Cinzia Padovani, Southern Illinois University Carbondale 10. Italy meets Europe: Elites, Citizens and Institutions Nicolò Conti, Università Unitelma Sapienza di Roma 11. Religion and the State Donatella Loprieno, Università della Calabria Section III: Politics 12. Parties, People and the "Geography of Politics" John Agnew, UCLA 13. The Political Right: Francesco Raniolo, Università della Calabria and Marco Tarchi, Università di Firenze 14. Left and Center-Left: Evolution, Crisis, Future Perspectives: Marc Lazar, Science Po Paris and Lilia Giugni, Science Po Paris 15. Christian Democracy in the "Second Republic": Between anachronism and niche identity Mark Donovan, Cardiff University 16. The Northern League Anna Cento Bull, University of Bath 17. Magistrates joining politics: Antonio Di Pietro and Italy of Values Jim Newell, University of Salford 18. Social Movements Italian-Style: From the No-Global to Beppe Grillo Mario Diani, ICREA-Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona and Maria Fabbri Sociolab, Firenze Section IV : The Italian Welfare and Economy 19. Welfare in Italy Julia Lynch and Peter Ceretti, University of Pennsylvania 20. Clientelism and Corruption Jean-Louis Briquet, Sciences Po, Paris 21. Political Institutions and Growth Leone Leonida, Queen Mary, Dario Maimone Ansaldo Patti, Università di Messina and Pietro Navarra, LSE/Messina 22. Italian Firms Raoul Minetti, Michigan State University 23. Banking Sector: Ownership, Profits and Competition Alsonfina Iona and Leone Leonida, Queen Mary, University of London Section V: Memories 24. Cinema, Memorial Narratives and Identity Paolo Jedlowski, Università della Calabria 25. The Risorgimento in Italian History, Politics and Memory AnnaRita Gori, ICS Lisbon 26. Fascism and Anti-Fascism Phil Cooke, University of Strathclyde 27. The Colonial Past Roberta Pergher, University of Kansas

Selected for the Outstanding Academic Title (OAT) Award 2017 by CHOICE magazine."The aim of this work is admirable and largely achieved. This handbook assesses selected aspects of modern Italy’s history, culture, politics, and economy in an interdisciplinary way. The commitment to asking and answering essential questions is valuable. However, what makes this undertaking particularly worthy is that this effort was undertaken by 38 authors in varied disciplines. A law professor, a psychologist, and a geographer join historians, sociologists, economists, and political scientists to analyze geographic and cultural differences, crime, women, youth, mass media, religion, big business, traditional and recent political movements, and emigration and the crisis of current immigration. The insights into contemporary Italy are at times wider than they are deep. However, the very nature of such a broad undertaking and the book’s proclaimed purpose necessitate an acknowledgement that the work is both a collection of important information about Italy and a call to further research." - P. Lorenzini, Saint Xavier University - CHOICE, Highly Recommended