A History of Contemporary Italy Society and Politics, 1943-1988

From a war-torn and poverty-stricken country, regional and predominantly agrarian, to the success story of recent years, Italy has witnessed the most profound transformation--economic, social and demographic--in its entire history. Yet the other recurrent theme of the period has been the overwhelming need for political reform--and the repeated failure to achieve it. Professor Ginsborg's authoritative work--the first to combine social and political perspectives--is concerned with both the tremendous achievements of contemporary Italy and "the continuities of its history that have not been easily set aside."

Paul Ginsborg is Professor of Contemporary European History at the University of Florence. His previous publications include Daniele Manin and the Venetian Revolution of 1848-1849.