Modern Italy, 1871 to the Present Paperback - 2008

From the rear cover

Praise for previous editions:

"Clark has produced an excellent example of what Italians like to describe, usually with admiration, as "empirismo inglese"" West European Politics

"Martin Clark's "Modern Italy" has a big gap to fill, and plugs it admirably... It can be read with pleasure and profit by specialist and general reader alike." P.J. Morgan, "English Historical Review"

"Clark's well-organized chapters are the best short account so far available in English." P.A.Ginsborg, "Times Literary Supplement"

In this 3rd edition of the classic text "Modern Italy," Martin Clark traces the political, social, cultural and economic history of Italy from its formation to the fall of Berlusconi. Both narrative and historiography are brought fully up to date. There is increased coverage of the 80s and 90s, more on Italian popular culture and for ease of reference the book now includes a full chronology.

In d'Azeglio's famous phrase, the "Risorgimento "in 1870 had ""'made Italy', but it had not 'made Italians'. The loyalties of the people remained local - to family and village - and supranational - to the Church. The continued struggle, then, for Italian national unity is the defining theme of the history of modern Italy.

In exploring the series of uprisings and quasi-civil wars from southern 'brigandage' in the 1860s to the widespread terrorism on the 1970s and the collapse of successive political regimes - Liberal, Fascist, Christian Democrat, Clark argues that unity has been sought not by stamping out contentious elements but by absorbing them into the political mainstream.

This political analysis is complemented by detailed coverage of Italian society beyond politics - family life, literature and leisure, religion and demography, in which Clark demonstrates the unusually complex relationships that exist in Italy between the institutions of state and the mass of the population.

By tracing the whole history of Italy from Unification to the present, Clark makes it clear that the problems of contemporary Italy have deep roots, reflecting and perpetuating conflicts that may already be centuries old. This is a magisterial survey - essential reading and food for thought for any student of Italy over the last century and a half.

Martin Clark was formerly Reader in the Department of Politics, University of Edinburgh. Previous books published by Longman include: "The Italian Risorgimento" (1998) and "Mussolini" (2005). The 2nd edition of "Modern Italy" and "The Italian Risorgimento," have appeared in Italian (Rizzoli); "Mussolini" has been translated into three languages, including Russian.

Media reviews

Citations

• Reference and Research Bk News, 08/01/2008, Page 47