Anna Cento Bull

This book is written by an academic rather than a journalist, and for me this reduced the accessibility of the book as it relies too heavily upon unsupported generalisations, rather than providing particular examples to illustrate the generalisation. However this does allow the book to be very short, and there is a further reading section.
I also found this book a little too brief in describing the unification of Italy in the nineteenth century, which needed more background about the Napoleonic invasion and subsequent partition between Austro-Hungarian empire in the north, Papal States in central Italy and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in the south. Again, for the rise of Mussolini and the fascist state in the 1922 to 1940 period is only lightly discussed, with insufficient detail provided for how Mussolini initially seized control.

After the first third of the book, an overview of the political position since 1945 is detailed, split into three main sections:
• Government by the Christian Democracy Party for over forty years, with enthusiasm towards the “European Project”, strong economic progress in the 1950’s and 1960’s, and growth of political rights away from the Catholic Church (especially divorce and abortion);
• Government by populist politicians, particularly media tycoon Berlusconi from 1994 to 2011, who promoted a”liberal revolution” with self interest as a justified and legitimate pursuit. But during this period there was the familiar (in the UK) alternation between centre-left and centre-right governments; and
• Bull identifies the subsequent (2011-16) growth of “Mediterranean Thought” promoting the value of “slowness”, criticism of the EU and a rejection of “modernity”.
Chapter 3 looks at the system of government in Italy in greater detail, which was particularly interesting for explaining how from 1945 to 1994 Italy was governed by the Christian Democracy Party, in varying coalitions with minority parties which did not wield significant political power. As the book was published in 2016, the period since 2011 appears rather vague, as it was too recent a period.
Chapter 4 looks at the economic history, dominated by industrialisation since 1945, the importance of small family firms (especially the “Made in Italyy” branding) and the negative impact of globalisation since the 1990’s. Interesting here are the comments about the development of hydroelectric power at the beginning of the twentieth century, the continued relative economic poverty of southern Italy compared to the north, despite repeated efforts to improve the South, and significant public enterprises.
It was also shocking to learn that an estimated 20% of GDP arises in the black economy and 10% in organised crime.
Chapter 5 looks at emigration and then immigration. Whilst emigration to the US well known, I had not realised that in Argentina people of Italian origin make up roughly 50% of the population.
Chapter 6 looks at the “soft power” that Italy has enjoyed since the 1960’s arising from the “Made in Italy” branding. Fashion and sport appear to be the most successful “exports”, although I was aware of those authors translated into English, such as Eco and Ferrante.

So, an adequate introduction, but I would have preferred something more in the style of Giles Tremlett’s Ghosts of Spain.… (més)