Debating Divorce in Italy Marriage and the Making of Modern Italians, 1860-1974

The popular referendum of 1974 which affirmed Italy's recently-won divorce law is widely regarded as a turning point in modern Italian history, but the long story behind that struggle has remained largely unfamiliar. Using the debates over divorce as a lens, this book is a study of the quest to modernize Italy, Italians, and Italian marriage. Although the 1974 referendum settled Italy's 'divorce question,' the issues at the heart of that question - particularly the relationship between individual rights, the state, and religion - remain central to modern politics.

Mark Seymour was born in London and moved to Sydney, Australia, as a teenager. His education continued in the USA and Italy. He teaches Italian and European history at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.