Italy Today represents one of the most comprehensive examinations of contemporary Italy. It is a provocative and an innovative collection that aims to highlight the current `crisis' of the country through an analysis of several different `dark shadows' of contemporary Italian society.
Italy already had a long history of `unsolved' issues, several chronic problems and contradictions that have been ignored for a very long time, during which they have assumed dramatic proportions and gravity. The peninsula has now become the `Sick Man of Europe', a country facing a veritable decline also caused by apparent incapacity and difficulties of the ruling economic, political and social elites.
Discussions include:
- an evaluation of the current predicaments of the political system
- analysis of emerging mafias, including new powerful crime organizations such as `Ndrangheta
- issues surrounding the ongoing presence of Fascism
- examination of the recent xenophobic tensions
- discussion of problems associated with the missed opportunity of the EU funding, and the increasing regional economic gaps
- outline of the systemic troubles of Italy's economic and industrial system.
Written by leading experts in the field and covering a wide range of topics, this collection is essential reading for all those seeking to understand the issues and problems that are facing contemporary Italy.