The decade commencing with the great crash of 2008 was a watershed period for Italian politics, involving fundamental and dramatic changes, many of which had not been anticipated. This comprehensive volume explores these changes. It was originally published as a special issue of the journal South European Society and Politics.

Martin Bull is Professor of Politics at the University of Salford, Greater Manchester, UK and Director of the European Consortium of Political Research, Colchester, UK.

Gianfranco Pasquino is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Bologna, Italy.

1. Introduction: Italian Politics in an Era of Recession: The End of Bipolarism? Martin J. Bull and Gianfranco Pasquino 2. In the Eye of the Storm: The Italian Economy and the Eurozone Crisis Martin J. Bull 3. The Italian Welfare State in the Crisis: Learning to Adjust? Stefano Sacchi 4. After and Beyond Amoral Familism: The Impact of the Economic Crisis on Social Capital Italian-style Raimondo Catanzaro 5. Trade Unions and Employment Relations in Italy during the Economic Crisis Ida Regalia and Marino Regini 6. Electoral Reform as an Engine of Party System Change in Italy Marta Regalia 7. Protest in Italy in Times of Crisis: A Cross-Government Comparison Massimiliano Andretta 8. Italian Migration Policies in Times of Crisis: The Policy Gap Reconsidered Tiziana Caponio and Teresa M. Cappiali 9. The Disappearance of Political Cultures in Italy Gianfranco Pasquino 10. Voters without a Party: The 'Long Decade' of the Italian Centre-Right and its Uncertain Future Marco Tarchi 11. The Italian Five Star Movement during the Crisis: Towards Normalisation? Filippo Tronconi 12. The Italian Democratic Party from Merger to Personalism Sofia Ventura