The Crisis of Liberal Italy

by Douglas J. Forsyth

Overview

Professor Forsyth provides an important new interpretation of the crisis of democracy in Italy after World War I. He argues that liberal governments after 1918 failed to balance the conflicting claims of great power conflicts, social welfare, economic growth, and macroeconomic stability in a harsh economic environment. Postwar liberal leaders put stability ahead of the redistributive social policies that would have been necessary to secure broad electoral support: this failure led to parliamentary deadlock and Mussolini's seizure of power.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521416825
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/12/1993
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.98(d)

Table of Contents

Part I. Giolittian Italy, 1901–1914: 1. The political economy of Giolittian Italy: the dilemmas of welfare, warfare and development; Part II. World War I, August 1914–November 1918: 2. The collapse of the Italian fiscal system; 3. The limits of state borrowing capacity; 4. Monetary policy and the banking system; 5. International accounts: Italy's loss of financial independence; Part III. The Post-War Crisis, November 1918–October 1922: 6. A difficult readjustment: the political economy of the Orlando and Nitti governments, November 1918–June 1920; 7. From Giolitti to Mussolini: monetary and financial stabilisation, and political collapse; Conclusion.

Editorial Reviews

"...a wealth of information on monetary and fiscal developments..." Journal of Modern History

"The author bases his analysis on extensive archival research, not only in Italy, but also in France, Britain, and the United States. ...it makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the post-war crisis in Italy." The International History Review

"...he marshals his copious evidence well and makes a compelling case, and his book must be adjudged an important and original reevaluation." American Historical Review

"...[a] meticulously researched study of Italy's public finances during the final years of liberation....Forsyth uses a wealth of archival and secondary sources....Forsyth's study is impressively researched, well organized and clearly written." Times Literary Supplement

"Forsyth's study is impressively researched, well organized and clearly written." Christopher Duggan, Times Literary Supplement

"Forsyth gives the reader a good glimpse into the inconsistencies of the Italian tax system with its inaccurate assessment for direct taxes and its little progressivity and equity especially on the implementation front, a problem that still exists today." Giuseppe Ammendola, Italian Journal

From the Publisher