This book explains Italy s endless political instability and its
historical, cultural and economic roots. It also illustrates why, even
after the creation of the Italian state, Italy was never really unified.
Piero Gobetti described fascism once as the "autobiography" of the
Italian nation. This book explains why today it is possible to describe
"berlusconism" - a cultural, political and social phenomenon in Italy-
as the most recent version of this country s autobiography.