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A History of Contemporary Italy: Society and Politics 1943-1988
In this long-awaited book (already a major bestseller in Italy) Ginsborg has created a fascinating, sophisticated and definitive account of how Italy has coped, or failed to cope, with the past two decades. Contemporary Italy strongly mirrors Britain - the countries have roughly the same extent, population size and GNP - and yet they are fantastically different. Ginsborg sees this difference as most fundamentally clear in the role of the family and it is the family which is at the heart of Italian politics and business. Anyone wishing to understand contemporary Italy will find it essential to have this enormously attractive and intelligent book.
592 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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August 14, 2023
TRA LA PERDUTA GENTE
Come dice il titolo, lo studio si ferma all’anno 1988.
Quello dopo il libro era già nelle librerie, pubblicato.
Io l’ho letto una manciata di anni dopo, ancora ‘caldo’.
A me fa tremare le vene dei polsi trovare un testo sotto l’etichetta di "storia" che analizza e racconta qualcosa che è ancora sotto i nostri occhi, che non è ancora "passato".
I miei anni di studi storici mi portano a ritenere che sia l’impresa più difficile: raccogliere e studiare il magma incandescente della cronaca con gli eventi connessi, interpretati, documentati. Wow.
Oppure, brrr.
Dal 1957 al 1977.
Grazie a Ginsborg, che è inglese, ma naturalizzato italiano, e insegna nell’università dove io mi sono laureato, ma purtroppo ha cominciato a farlo quando io ne ero già uscito, e del nostro paese ha perfino partecipato alla vita politica (i girotondi), grazie al suo approccio per nulla italiano, allarga il concetto di ‘storia’ seguendo la lezione delle Annales, abbracciando quasi tutte le modalità del visibile e dell'accaduto, nessuna esclusa, dalla politica, all'economia, alla società, al costume, allo sport, allo spettacolo, alla vita quotidiana, in un tentativo di storia totale che rende affascinante e temerario il lavoro dello storico moderno. Wow.
Oppure, brrr.
La madre di tutte le stragi: Piazza Fontana.
Quello che segue è l’inizio della sua breve premessa:
L’Italia del 1943 era una nazione in cui, al di fuori delle principali aree urbane, ben poco era cambiato rispetto ai tempi di Garibaldi e Cavour. Si tratta di un paese ancora prevalentemente agricolo, caratterizzato da grandi e ancora intatte bellezze naturali, da sonnolente città di provincia, da una povertà endemica, soprattutto nel Sud, da una cultura popolare ancora profondamente contadina e dialettale.
Era anche un paese in crisi profonda. La volontà imperialistica ed espansionistica di Mussolini aveva portato l’Italia a subire una duplice invasione, quella tedesca dal Nord e quella alleata dal Sud. La stessa integrità dello Stato nazionale, vecchio nemmeno di ottant’anni, era messa in discussione.
Quarantacinque anni più tardi, il volto dell’Italia si è trasformato tanto da risultare quasi irriconoscibile. Intanto, essa è divenuta una delle nazioni economicamente più forti del mondo, con un prodotto interno lordo più o meno equivalente a quello della Gran Bretagna, dopo aver bruciato le tappe di un processo straordinariamente rapido di accumulazione, di urbanizzazione, di secolarizzazione. Le culture contadine dei secoli precedenti non sono scomparse del tutto, ma sono state sostituite da un’unica cultura nazionale urbana. Vi è stata una migrazione senza precedenti dalle campagne alle città, e dal meridione al settentrione. Durante gli anni dello Stato repubblicano, insomma, l’Italia ha assistito al più profondo rivolgimento sociale della sua storia.
PS
Dopo l’unità di Italia, si reputa che Massimo D’Azeglio abbia detto qualcosa del genere: ora che l’Italia è fatta, dobbiamo fare gli italiani.
Centosessanta anni dopo sappiamo che gli italiani sono ancora ben lontani, soggetti non pervenuti: ma a questo punto, direi che la stessa Italia sembra ancora debba davvero essere fatta.
Come dice il titolo, lo studio si ferma all’anno 1988.
Quello dopo il libro era già nelle librerie, pubblicato.
Io l’ho letto una manciata di anni dopo, ancora ‘caldo’.
A me fa tremare le vene dei polsi trovare un testo sotto l’etichetta di "storia" che analizza e racconta qualcosa che è ancora sotto i nostri occhi, che non è ancora "passato".
I miei anni di studi storici mi portano a ritenere che sia l’impresa più difficile: raccogliere e studiare il magma incandescente della cronaca con gli eventi connessi, interpretati, documentati. Wow.
Oppure, brrr.
Dal 1957 al 1977.
Grazie a Ginsborg, che è inglese, ma naturalizzato italiano, e insegna nell’università dove io mi sono laureato, ma purtroppo ha cominciato a farlo quando io ne ero già uscito, e del nostro paese ha perfino partecipato alla vita politica (i girotondi), grazie al suo approccio per nulla italiano, allarga il concetto di ‘storia’ seguendo la lezione delle Annales, abbracciando quasi tutte le modalità del visibile e dell'accaduto, nessuna esclusa, dalla politica, all'economia, alla società, al costume, allo sport, allo spettacolo, alla vita quotidiana, in un tentativo di storia totale che rende affascinante e temerario il lavoro dello storico moderno. Wow.
Oppure, brrr.
La madre di tutte le stragi: Piazza Fontana.
Quello che segue è l’inizio della sua breve premessa:
L’Italia del 1943 era una nazione in cui, al di fuori delle principali aree urbane, ben poco era cambiato rispetto ai tempi di Garibaldi e Cavour. Si tratta di un paese ancora prevalentemente agricolo, caratterizzato da grandi e ancora intatte bellezze naturali, da sonnolente città di provincia, da una povertà endemica, soprattutto nel Sud, da una cultura popolare ancora profondamente contadina e dialettale.
Era anche un paese in crisi profonda. La volontà imperialistica ed espansionistica di Mussolini aveva portato l’Italia a subire una duplice invasione, quella tedesca dal Nord e quella alleata dal Sud. La stessa integrità dello Stato nazionale, vecchio nemmeno di ottant’anni, era messa in discussione.
Quarantacinque anni più tardi, il volto dell’Italia si è trasformato tanto da risultare quasi irriconoscibile. Intanto, essa è divenuta una delle nazioni economicamente più forti del mondo, con un prodotto interno lordo più o meno equivalente a quello della Gran Bretagna, dopo aver bruciato le tappe di un processo straordinariamente rapido di accumulazione, di urbanizzazione, di secolarizzazione. Le culture contadine dei secoli precedenti non sono scomparse del tutto, ma sono state sostituite da un’unica cultura nazionale urbana. Vi è stata una migrazione senza precedenti dalle campagne alle città, e dal meridione al settentrione. Durante gli anni dello Stato repubblicano, insomma, l’Italia ha assistito al più profondo rivolgimento sociale della sua storia.
PS
Dopo l’unità di Italia, si reputa che Massimo D’Azeglio abbia detto qualcosa del genere: ora che l’Italia è fatta, dobbiamo fare gli italiani.
Centosessanta anni dopo sappiamo che gli italiani sono ancora ben lontani, soggetti non pervenuti: ma a questo punto, direi che la stessa Italia sembra ancora debba davvero essere fatta.
September 8, 2013
POST WAR ITALY
Paul Ginsborg's "A History of Contemporary Italy" begins with the Italians reaping the disastrous rewards of over two decades of Mussolini's rule. The Allies have invaded southern Italy, and on the removal of El Duce the Germans invade from the north. The author expertly portrays the chaotic situation, with an increasingly popular Resistance in the north fighting the Germans who are themselves trying to consolidate their control and stop the Allied forces from battling their way up the peninsula towards Germany itself.
Ginsborg is particularly good on the tensions between the Resistance (largely formed of Communists) and the Allies along with the Italian government formed after Mussolini was deposed. It is clear, that as in Greece, the Allies have no intention of leaving the Italians to sort out their own political future and clearly favour the right, particularly but not exclusively those who kept their hands relatively clean during the fascist era. This goes as far as - minimally - looking the other way as the Mafia re-established themselves in Sicily.
The book is broadly sympathetic to the left in Italy but without compromising on impartially telling the story of Italy's recovery under the Christian Democrats, or the limitations of the left themselves. This reader, for one, ended up wishing that the Communists had sent their leader Togliatti back to Moscow, along with the Stalinist style structures which weighed the party down and his policy of appeasement vis-à-vis the Christian Democrats which achieved nothing.
Ginsborg's attention is focussed primarily on social, political and economic developments as they evolved during the post-war recovery and beyond. A constant authorial eye is kept on changing programs and policies of all parties whether it's the Christian Democrats in central government, or other parties at the local level, as well as the economic and the social circumstances of the country, from the industrial and relatively advanced north to the impoverished rural south. Other topics covered include developments in the working class movements, the upheavals of 1968, agrarian reform, organised crime and industrial policy. There is also a substantial amount of social, political and economic data in a statistical appendix at the end of the book.
This is a substantial work that is very well written. Ginsborg, who himself has spent a good deal of time in Italy, conveys an enormous amount of information about the changing circumstances of post-war Italy. This is frequently accompanied with first-hand accounts from all manner of people, from the world of high politics and business to the southern rural migrant in the industrial north, that leave the reader with a vivid sense of developments. If there is one problem it is that though the book claims to tell the story of Italy up until 1988, most of the detail is with regard to the period up to 1980 with a short final chapter of twenty or so pages covering the main developments in the 1980's. Otherwise this is a book I would whole heartedly recommend to anyone who is interested in Italy in particular, and more generally in how a western European country developed during the economic "golden age" up until the 1970's and how afterwards things changed . . .
Paul Ginsborg's "A History of Contemporary Italy" begins with the Italians reaping the disastrous rewards of over two decades of Mussolini's rule. The Allies have invaded southern Italy, and on the removal of El Duce the Germans invade from the north. The author expertly portrays the chaotic situation, with an increasingly popular Resistance in the north fighting the Germans who are themselves trying to consolidate their control and stop the Allied forces from battling their way up the peninsula towards Germany itself.
Ginsborg is particularly good on the tensions between the Resistance (largely formed of Communists) and the Allies along with the Italian government formed after Mussolini was deposed. It is clear, that as in Greece, the Allies have no intention of leaving the Italians to sort out their own political future and clearly favour the right, particularly but not exclusively those who kept their hands relatively clean during the fascist era. This goes as far as - minimally - looking the other way as the Mafia re-established themselves in Sicily.
The book is broadly sympathetic to the left in Italy but without compromising on impartially telling the story of Italy's recovery under the Christian Democrats, or the limitations of the left themselves. This reader, for one, ended up wishing that the Communists had sent their leader Togliatti back to Moscow, along with the Stalinist style structures which weighed the party down and his policy of appeasement vis-à-vis the Christian Democrats which achieved nothing.
Ginsborg's attention is focussed primarily on social, political and economic developments as they evolved during the post-war recovery and beyond. A constant authorial eye is kept on changing programs and policies of all parties whether it's the Christian Democrats in central government, or other parties at the local level, as well as the economic and the social circumstances of the country, from the industrial and relatively advanced north to the impoverished rural south. Other topics covered include developments in the working class movements, the upheavals of 1968, agrarian reform, organised crime and industrial policy. There is also a substantial amount of social, political and economic data in a statistical appendix at the end of the book.
This is a substantial work that is very well written. Ginsborg, who himself has spent a good deal of time in Italy, conveys an enormous amount of information about the changing circumstances of post-war Italy. This is frequently accompanied with first-hand accounts from all manner of people, from the world of high politics and business to the southern rural migrant in the industrial north, that leave the reader with a vivid sense of developments. If there is one problem it is that though the book claims to tell the story of Italy up until 1988, most of the detail is with regard to the period up to 1980 with a short final chapter of twenty or so pages covering the main developments in the 1980's. Otherwise this is a book I would whole heartedly recommend to anyone who is interested in Italy in particular, and more generally in how a western European country developed during the economic "golden age" up until the 1970's and how afterwards things changed . . .
January 1, 2011
Di tutte le monografie storiografiche "mainstream" uscite sulla storia dell'Italia nel secondo dopoguerra, forse questa di Ginsborg è la migliore. Soprattutto nella parte del "boom economico" e nella transizione di fine anni '60 primi anni '70.
Quando, però, si arriva ai pieni anni '70 son dolori, ed è un peccato, ma da uno storico accademico, alla fine degli anni '80, forse non si poteva chiedere di più.
Quando, però, si arriva ai pieni anni '70 son dolori, ed è un peccato, ma da uno storico accademico, alla fine degli anni '80, forse non si poteva chiedere di più.
November 11, 2025
Well written and hugely well researched social, political and economic history of the First Republic. The book is from 1990 and only covers up to 1988, so misses the incredibly eventful collapse of the Italian party system that followed soon after in the Tangentopoli scandals, and the effects of the fall of the Wall on the PCI. But interestingly, you can feel the rot throughout, with his portrayal of an economically buoyant Italy in the 80s nonentheless starting to really show a society straining at the limits and contradictions of its political systems under the serlf-serving dominance of the Christian Democrats (and the PSI, under Craxi). The divide between North and South is a dominant theme throughout and the book does a good job at exposing the long historical, political and social reasons for its deepening in the Republic.
Ginsborg takes a highly Marxian approach with a relentless focus on class-based politics, the political economy of the time and is excellent on the trade union movement, and changing face and place of work in the time. Social movements, political party history and the essentials o
One thing that suffers from the lack of future exposition was more detail on the individuals, organisations (and governments) behind the Strategy of Tension in the Years of Lead - those details are still emerging, but their absence means some very dramatic incidents are a little glossed over.
The considerable and detailed notes both demonstrate the level of research the author is able to draw from, and the comprehensiveness of the resulting book. It's a great read
Ginsborg takes a highly Marxian approach with a relentless focus on class-based politics, the political economy of the time and is excellent on the trade union movement, and changing face and place of work in the time. Social movements, political party history and the essentials o
One thing that suffers from the lack of future exposition was more detail on the individuals, organisations (and governments) behind the Strategy of Tension in the Years of Lead - those details are still emerging, but their absence means some very dramatic incidents are a little glossed over.
The considerable and detailed notes both demonstrate the level of research the author is able to draw from, and the comprehensiveness of the resulting book. It's a great read
February 23, 2021
Un ottimo manuale di storia Italiana dalla caduta del fascismo agli anni che precedono la discesa in campo di Berlusconi. Ginsborg è uno storico di altissimo livello, ogni fenomeno analizzato nel testo è analitico e preciso grazie alla bibliografia ricca e ampia.
March 13, 2023
Esauriente saggio che sicuramente cerca di dare qualche risposta alle domanda “come ci siamo arrivati qua?”
Lungi dal considerare l’essere italiani un destino, Ginsborg prova a dare risposte complesse per sbrogliare la matassa. Sinceramente un libro che mi ha tolto le speranze.
Lungi dal considerare l’essere italiani un destino, Ginsborg prova a dare risposte complesse per sbrogliare la matassa. Sinceramente un libro che mi ha tolto le speranze.
May 11, 2010
The book interweaves the economic, political, and societal changes of a 45 period when Italy made the jump from a backward state, where German and allied armies fought and a civil war raged to a modern state with an economy about the same size as Great Britain. Italy had the largest neo fascist party in the west and the largest communist party as well. Throughout all the center-right christian democrats ruled in an uninterrupted fashion, for better or for worse. The book captures the rise of the unions and the left flush with confidence in 1968 that their time had come only to disintegrate with the nihilism of the red brigades and the onslaught of globalism. Instead of representing the future, they descended into gloom and despair with the realization that history had passed them by.
I wish I could find a book picking p the period 1988 to the present.
I wish I could find a book picking p the period 1988 to the present.
January 4, 2017
Really enjoyed this. Political history as it should be done. I just wish there were similar political histories for other countries as well. The author deals with politics mainly through class, while not ignoring cultural factors. He is perhaps overtly critical of the Italian Left's reformism while being consistently scathing of the Right's corruption, while acknowledging its tactical abilities
August 16, 2018
Dovrebbe essere una lettura obbligatoria in tutte le scuole,
July 27, 2025
Very good book on Italy modern history, from a more materialistic, socialist POV. A large part of the book focus on social movements, including worker's movements taking place during the 50s throughout the 70s, as well as internal party dynamics, with a focus on left-wing parties.
Italy, along with Spain, represent an incredible success story of capitalism during the Cold War. Despite never reaching the same levels of prosperity as the Northern countries did during the same time (except in limited regions), both natuons experienced an incredible increase in income, consuming power and quality of life, more than overtaking similar countries like Poland and Czdch Republic at the same time.
It is interesting to see how increased prosperity and specialization represented a death kneel to Italy's worker movement. As labour moved away from large factories to a pulverized tertuary sector, mass momvements became increasingly difficult or near impossible. An environment of subsidized small businness also made labour solidarity much harder.
Yet even within this context of propserity, the country remained plagued with excessive bureaucracy, corruption, and a stultified political system which was increasingly unrepresentative. A lot of the book is focused on discussing what the PCI couldve done to break from this mold. Frankly is hard to see any way out. It would have required leadership of tremendous vision to have been able to overtake the regional and national challenges of Italian politics.
And this regional differences keep appearing throughout the book, with rhe notable North-South divide being ever present.
The decade that came after when this book was written, would represent a break with this pattern. First of all, the prosperity was over - Italians would not see real income earnings for the next 20 years, representing probably one of the worst performing economies in Europe. The DC-PSI-PCI domination would be destroyed by Mani Pulite, with traditional popitics being substituted by right wing political populism. The successes of the more radical sevtors of the left would disappear and Italy would move inexorably to the right, with it today being ruled by a post-fascist party. To the traditional South-North, the complication of the migrant communities would be added, bringing unexpected unity among traditionally divided Italians.
Italy is probably the basket case of Europe today. The issues with a fractured political system continue to this day and there seems that there is a compounding issue with the country quickly ageing and no opportunities for young people being provided. It produces now not the working class hand of Europe but an underclass of white collar workers who move to Brussels and Frankfurt for better opportunity to become clerks. Its youth is incresibly well instructed, and yet very little can be achieved in their homeland. Fascist-populism has provided a space for the airing of discontent, but has done little to address these issues. There isnt much hope for 2030.
Italy, along with Spain, represent an incredible success story of capitalism during the Cold War. Despite never reaching the same levels of prosperity as the Northern countries did during the same time (except in limited regions), both natuons experienced an incredible increase in income, consuming power and quality of life, more than overtaking similar countries like Poland and Czdch Republic at the same time.
It is interesting to see how increased prosperity and specialization represented a death kneel to Italy's worker movement. As labour moved away from large factories to a pulverized tertuary sector, mass momvements became increasingly difficult or near impossible. An environment of subsidized small businness also made labour solidarity much harder.
Yet even within this context of propserity, the country remained plagued with excessive bureaucracy, corruption, and a stultified political system which was increasingly unrepresentative. A lot of the book is focused on discussing what the PCI couldve done to break from this mold. Frankly is hard to see any way out. It would have required leadership of tremendous vision to have been able to overtake the regional and national challenges of Italian politics.
And this regional differences keep appearing throughout the book, with rhe notable North-South divide being ever present.
The decade that came after when this book was written, would represent a break with this pattern. First of all, the prosperity was over - Italians would not see real income earnings for the next 20 years, representing probably one of the worst performing economies in Europe. The DC-PSI-PCI domination would be destroyed by Mani Pulite, with traditional popitics being substituted by right wing political populism. The successes of the more radical sevtors of the left would disappear and Italy would move inexorably to the right, with it today being ruled by a post-fascist party. To the traditional South-North, the complication of the migrant communities would be added, bringing unexpected unity among traditionally divided Italians.
Italy is probably the basket case of Europe today. The issues with a fractured political system continue to this day and there seems that there is a compounding issue with the country quickly ageing and no opportunities for young people being provided. It produces now not the working class hand of Europe but an underclass of white collar workers who move to Brussels and Frankfurt for better opportunity to become clerks. Its youth is incresibly well instructed, and yet very little can be achieved in their homeland. Fascist-populism has provided a space for the airing of discontent, but has done little to address these issues. There isnt much hope for 2030.
February 20, 2020
Come molti, a scuola ho imparato la nostra storia solo fino alla fine della seconda guerra mondiale, e senza nemmeno troppi dettagli.
Col desiderio di colmare finalmente questa mia ignoranza, ho comprato questo libro. E' fatto molto molto bene, ci sono dovizie di informazioni e dettagli, senza risultare però mai stucchevole. Alcune parti risaltano in modo particolare, come la descrizione del "boom economico italiano" degli anni '60, che ne esce anche ridimensionato nella sua epicità, dato che è alla fine più il frutto di "Laissez-faire" politico, imprenditori scaltri, e manodopera pagata molto poco, più che di reali innovazioni. Eravamo la Cina di cinquant'anni fa.
Un altro elemento appare evidente dal libro, e non in positivo: la politica italiana, quasi trasversalmente, è stata attraversata da piccoli uomini che hanno badato sempre al loro tornaconto e mai al bene del Paese. Togliatti, Nenni, Fanfani, tutti nomi che riecheggiano nella nostra storia come quelli di grandi statisti, ma che alla prova dei fatti hanno tarpato le ali a un Paese che avrebbe potuto essere molto migliore di quello che è diventato nel dopoguerra.
Ma un partito e una persona escono come tristi "vincitori" di questa classifica: la DC e Aldo Moro. Il partito storicamente inciuciaro, clientelare, lottizzatore di tutta la vita pubblica, corrotto, lo conoscevamo già tutti. Quello che non sapevo è quanto sia stato pessimo Moro. Colpa probabilmente dell'aura di misticizzazione dovuta alla sua tragica fine, che come spesso accade fa diventare il ricordo delle persone migliore delle persone stesse. Nel libro è il campione del non fare, del dire tutto e niente, del mantenimento dello status quo e della difesa a ogni costo della supremazia della DC, mettendo sempre il bene del partito davanti a quello del Paese. E sotto i suoi occhi e quelli della DC, mentre gente senza scrupoli si arricchiva, il nostro Paese esaurita la spinta degli anni '60 è diventato quello che è oggi: vecchio, arretrato, individualista, pieno di gente che pensa solo ai propri interessi, con un paesaggio bellissimo devastato dalla speculazione infinita.
Si dice che studiamo la storia per evitare di ripetere gli stessi errori, chissà se abbiamo anche solo capito quali abbiamo fatto nel secondo dopoguerra.
Col desiderio di colmare finalmente questa mia ignoranza, ho comprato questo libro. E' fatto molto molto bene, ci sono dovizie di informazioni e dettagli, senza risultare però mai stucchevole. Alcune parti risaltano in modo particolare, come la descrizione del "boom economico italiano" degli anni '60, che ne esce anche ridimensionato nella sua epicità, dato che è alla fine più il frutto di "Laissez-faire" politico, imprenditori scaltri, e manodopera pagata molto poco, più che di reali innovazioni. Eravamo la Cina di cinquant'anni fa.
Un altro elemento appare evidente dal libro, e non in positivo: la politica italiana, quasi trasversalmente, è stata attraversata da piccoli uomini che hanno badato sempre al loro tornaconto e mai al bene del Paese. Togliatti, Nenni, Fanfani, tutti nomi che riecheggiano nella nostra storia come quelli di grandi statisti, ma che alla prova dei fatti hanno tarpato le ali a un Paese che avrebbe potuto essere molto migliore di quello che è diventato nel dopoguerra.
Ma un partito e una persona escono come tristi "vincitori" di questa classifica: la DC e Aldo Moro. Il partito storicamente inciuciaro, clientelare, lottizzatore di tutta la vita pubblica, corrotto, lo conoscevamo già tutti. Quello che non sapevo è quanto sia stato pessimo Moro. Colpa probabilmente dell'aura di misticizzazione dovuta alla sua tragica fine, che come spesso accade fa diventare il ricordo delle persone migliore delle persone stesse. Nel libro è il campione del non fare, del dire tutto e niente, del mantenimento dello status quo e della difesa a ogni costo della supremazia della DC, mettendo sempre il bene del partito davanti a quello del Paese. E sotto i suoi occhi e quelli della DC, mentre gente senza scrupoli si arricchiva, il nostro Paese esaurita la spinta degli anni '60 è diventato quello che è oggi: vecchio, arretrato, individualista, pieno di gente che pensa solo ai propri interessi, con un paesaggio bellissimo devastato dalla speculazione infinita.
Si dice che studiamo la storia per evitare di ripetere gli stessi errori, chissà se abbiamo anche solo capito quali abbiamo fatto nel secondo dopoguerra.
December 6, 2020
Molto interessante, perché ripercorre concisamente ma precisamente tutta la storia italiana, facendo parecchia chiarezza. In molti punti, si sente la pesantezza del giudizio storico, onere che Ginsborg si prende coraggiosamente. Il complesso è profondamente deprimente, perché si vede il fallimento di tutte le istanze riformatrici e la vacuità di tutte quelle rivoluzionarie, e come la Dc abbia fagocitato Psi e Pci, e questi abbiano perso ogni occasione che avevano, risultando del tutto impotenti. In effetti sembra che il Pci non abbia fatto quasi nulla, e non si capisce nemmeno se abbia appoggiato le leggi sull'aborto e sul divorzio sostenute dai radicali, ad esempio. Forse perché Ginsborg si concentra troppo sulla storia d'Italia dal punto di vista dell'azione dei partiti e dei tentativi di riformare lo Stato, e trascura tutto il resto (la legge Merlin non è nemmeno citata!). Terribili le ultime parole, con cui Ginsborg, nel lontano 1987, si augurava che finisse l'epoca degli individualismi e del liberismo degli anni '80, e iniziasse un periodo di azione collettiva e sociale: avesse visto ciò che lo aspettava!
August 13, 2022
This book has been sitting on my shelf for a free years now, and with two close friends moving to Italy, I figured there was no better time to read it. Overall, a solid history of Italy since World War II, although Ginsborg sometimes downplays major reforms that the Christian Democrats signed off on. He also focuses more on how their reforms could’ve been better than on the good that they did.
His distaste for CD is pretty clear, although a fair bit of the criticism is warranted. While this book was written in the 1980s, his frank discussion of his clientelism and corruption came to dominate Italian politics presaged the major revelations to come just a few years later. There was a good deal of discussion about political trends, shifts, and debates. And he also describes in detail the social and economic conditions of the Italian people, with a special focus on labor unions. A few key themes emerge throughout, such as the relationship between family-centrism and broader community, the left’s relationships with accommodation versus struggle, and the gaping North-South divide that persists today.
His distaste for CD is pretty clear, although a fair bit of the criticism is warranted. While this book was written in the 1980s, his frank discussion of his clientelism and corruption came to dominate Italian politics presaged the major revelations to come just a few years later. There was a good deal of discussion about political trends, shifts, and debates. And he also describes in detail the social and economic conditions of the Italian people, with a special focus on labor unions. A few key themes emerge throughout, such as the relationship between family-centrism and broader community, the left’s relationships with accommodation versus struggle, and the gaping North-South divide that persists today.
February 1, 2023
It is difficult to rate this book. On the one hand, it is full of information for the researcher interested in this topic. On the other hand, I felt like I was reading a Year End Report of a large corporation compiled by the outside CPA firm. I had to put it down for a while.
This is a book mostly about economics and politics with its fair share of statistics and written in a dry, matter-of-fact way. Its format also looks like it was published with a typewriter. It paints a bleak picture of Italy with its poor, backwardness, illiteracy, and emigrations to the Americas, Australia and more developed areas of Europe including France, Switzerland, Belgium and West Germany. The so-called Economic Miracle uprooted families, ruined religion and destroyed the natural landscape. The southerners who emigrated to northern cities for work were treated with contempt. In 1939 Mussolini instituted a law preventing internal migration to towns with populations of more than 25,000 unless there was proof of employment. But they could not get the employment unless they could show residency which created a circular problem. This law was not repealed until the early 1960s - I think maybe 1961.
Update: 01/28/2023
Took a long break from this book at about page 150 but have picked it up again and hope to finish it soon. Usually I like contemporary history books about Italy but this one was a bit different. It is a good book but couldn't get into it the same way as others I have read.
This is a book mostly about economics and politics with its fair share of statistics and written in a dry, matter-of-fact way. Its format also looks like it was published with a typewriter. It paints a bleak picture of Italy with its poor, backwardness, illiteracy, and emigrations to the Americas, Australia and more developed areas of Europe including France, Switzerland, Belgium and West Germany. The so-called Economic Miracle uprooted families, ruined religion and destroyed the natural landscape. The southerners who emigrated to northern cities for work were treated with contempt. In 1939 Mussolini instituted a law preventing internal migration to towns with populations of more than 25,000 unless there was proof of employment. But they could not get the employment unless they could show residency which created a circular problem. This law was not repealed until the early 1960s - I think maybe 1961.
Update: 01/28/2023
Took a long break from this book at about page 150 but have picked it up again and hope to finish it soon. Usually I like contemporary history books about Italy but this one was a bit different. It is a good book but couldn't get into it the same way as others I have read.
October 27, 2025
Libro estremamente scorrevole e ricco di informazioni, da leggere più volte per assimilare bene tutti i concetti - e lo intendo come un complimento.
La bibliografia è ben nutrita.
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Avrei apprezzato degli approfondimenti sui vari partiti/correnti come liberali, MSI, repubblicani, socialdemocratici, ecc..., che invece vengono solo citati.
Alla fine del libro ci sono varie tabelle e grafici che riassumono alcuni fenomeni trattati, come migrazioni e andamento delle nascite; è un peccato che siano un po' "buttate lì" e ripetitive, quasi fini a sè stesse.
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Nondimeno, è un libro fenomenale per comprendere la storia italiana; lo consiglio a chiunque sia interessato di politica o storia.
La bibliografia è ben nutrita.
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Avrei apprezzato degli approfondimenti sui vari partiti/correnti come liberali, MSI, repubblicani, socialdemocratici, ecc..., che invece vengono solo citati.
Alla fine del libro ci sono varie tabelle e grafici che riassumono alcuni fenomeni trattati, come migrazioni e andamento delle nascite; è un peccato che siano un po' "buttate lì" e ripetitive, quasi fini a sè stesse.
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Nondimeno, è un libro fenomenale per comprendere la storia italiana; lo consiglio a chiunque sia interessato di politica o storia.
September 4, 2023
Molto bene! This answered a lot of questions I had in a very clear and materialist way. The interplay between Catholic and Communist politics in Italy is really fascinating. Amidst all the conflict there are these very brief moments of convergence that hint at another way of being. That being said, the PCI are the most Charlie Brown trying to kick the football political party of the 20th century. They fumbled basically every chance they got! The narrative ends in 1988 but there is one mention of Berlusconi that feels like a jump scare.
September 7, 2025
VOTO: 4+
PRO: analisi delle dinamiche sociali, politiche ed economiche, identificazione di deficit e anomalie strutturali
CONTRO: limitato agli anni 1950-1980
Ottimo saggio introduttivo alla storia italiana a partire dal secondo dopoguerra fino al 1980, che mette in risalto i mali cronici del Paese - dalla burocrazia al clientelismo, dall'evasione fiscale alla mancanza di riforme strutturali. L'opera, pubblicata per la prima volta nel 1989, arriva a coprire gli anni Settanta, con un rapido excursus sugli anni Ottanta.
PRO: analisi delle dinamiche sociali, politiche ed economiche, identificazione di deficit e anomalie strutturali
CONTRO: limitato agli anni 1950-1980
Ottimo saggio introduttivo alla storia italiana a partire dal secondo dopoguerra fino al 1980, che mette in risalto i mali cronici del Paese - dalla burocrazia al clientelismo, dall'evasione fiscale alla mancanza di riforme strutturali. L'opera, pubblicata per la prima volta nel 1989, arriva a coprire gli anni Settanta, con un rapido excursus sugli anni Ottanta.
December 18, 2021
La parte migliore e più interessante del 900 raccontata in modo semplice, ma preciso e dettagliato
June 4, 2022
comprehensive if also accessible
December 24, 2024
Super curioso, ho scoperto tante cose ma mega specifico e ci ho messo 4 mesi a finirlo
Currently reading
February 16, 2025i rly fw this book. period of history I am Very Fascinated With. So far it is helpting to Clarify Leftr Politics in 60s and 70s, as well as Development of Christian Democrarts and Other shit
July 11, 2024
Simply one of the best historical works I've ever read, and the single best on Italy. Comprehensive, but fluidly written; vivid in its use of individual or local experience to illustrate wider themes; incredibly precise--and usually convincing--in argumentation.
September 19, 2011
A huge, useful tome of post-war Italian history. Because it's basically a history book, it can be a bit dry and hard to stay focused-on - but kudos to Ginsborg for trying to cram all that info into my tiny brain. I wish I could take this book as a lecture series/course by him. Anyway, just for my own memory, here are my takeaways: well, first there was the war and the occupation by the evil Nazis. That sucked. Partisans were cool. Americans saved everyone (and planted their seeds of control). Then the major Italian parties formed - the DC (Christian Democrats), PCI (Communists) and PSI (Socialists) (Ginsborg doesn't mention the crazy right-wing guys like Lega Nord and Alleanza Nazionale) - but America kinda hated the Communists during the Cold War, so they were doomed to be opposition forever. At least until the late 70s/Berlinguer; though, even in government, they didn't work out. In fact, every government since the war didn't work out so well. Reform never came. The bureaucracy was horrible. The mafia thrived. People protested, '68 idealism working itself up into a frenzy of 1970s terrorism (Aldo Moro; the Bologna train station bombing; radicals and anarchists). And then the 1980s happened, when everyone wore big horrible glasses and rolled around in money. (I imagine "Working Girl", only with Beppe Severgnini and his big glasses making appearances.) I'm sure I missed a lot. But nonetheless, Ginsborg did an amazing job, and now I have this trusty tome as a reference. Seriously, it's huge. He has a sequel (which I think he should have titled, "Berlusconi!", but instead is called "Italy and Its Discontents"). Indeed, the story is discontenting to the max. Machiavellian backstabbing and corruption is fun (and funny) at the remove of 500 years, in the romance of Renaissance princely states. But 20th century corruption and decay is just sad. Oh, Italy. What to do with you!
November 5, 2014
Necessarily a bit dry and acronym heavy when dealing with party politics, this Marxist (in the purest, materialist sense) but objective and balanced account of Italy's extraordinary growth and change in the post-war period is otherwise a revelation. From the volatile part the extreme left and extreme right played throughout the era, to the geographical and social divides in a country that began the period in medieval squalor in parts of the South, to the peculiarities of religion, organised crime and kinship, all is explained thoroughly using data, first-hand accounts and thoughtful analysis. It was a tough read, but it won't be long before I reach for the follow up.
December 16, 2007
AMAZING. This should have been my high school textbook on Italian history.
Of COURSE the italian communist party was under the guide of the Soviets - and PRECISELY FOR THAT REASON they posed no threat to "italian democracy": in fact, they were a conservative force, restraining the revolutionary impulses of workers and landless peasants. Remember that the Soviets played a very similar role in revolutionary spain...
it also helps to explain a great deal of how the italian state came to be in the deplorable condition it is now.
Of COURSE the italian communist party was under the guide of the Soviets - and PRECISELY FOR THAT REASON they posed no threat to "italian democracy": in fact, they were a conservative force, restraining the revolutionary impulses of workers and landless peasants. Remember that the Soviets played a very similar role in revolutionary spain...
it also helps to explain a great deal of how the italian state came to be in the deplorable condition it is now.
March 19, 2009
A detailed account of Italy from World War II to the end of the Italian First Republic. Mr. Ginsborg covers all the topics from the economic miracle to the year of lead related to terrorism in Italy in the 1960s and 1970s.
June 12, 2025
Lu dans le cadre de mes études (2014-2016).
Concis mais précis (ça fait quand même un bon pavé !), l'histoire politique, économique et sociale de l'Italie, entre la 2e guerre mondiale et les années 90. Lecture très, très intéressante.
Concis mais précis (ça fait quand même un bon pavé !), l'histoire politique, économique et sociale de l'Italie, entre la 2e guerre mondiale et les années 90. Lecture très, très intéressante.
June 7, 2007
a very well reaserched book. Accurate and well written.
Italians have a short memory, they should all read this book... funny that the best books about Italy are not written by Italians
Italians have a short memory, they should all read this book... funny that the best books about Italy are not written by Italians
July 18, 2008
Good, but dull and tedious. Read more like a textbook
June 6, 2008
An ubiqutous read.
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