The Italian General Election of 2008

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

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2. Introduction: a Guide to the Election and ‘Instructions for Use’

   1. Introduction: a Guide to the Election and ‘Instructions for Use’

      • James L. Newell

      Pages 1-21

3. The Context

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 23-23

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   2. The Political Context: 2006–2008

      • Alfio Mastropaolo

      Pages 25-42

   3. The Economic Context

      • Michele Capriati

      Pages 43-61

   4. The EU and International Contexts

      • Giovanna Antonia Fois

      Pages 62-81

4. The Run-Up to the Election

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 83-83

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   2. The Parties of the Centre Left

      • Ilaria Favretto

      Pages 85-101

   3. The Parties of the Centre Right: Many Oppositions, One Leader

      • Daniele Albertazzi, Duncan McDonnell

      Pages 102-117

   4. The Processes of Alliance Formation

      • Mark Donovan

      Pages 118-134

5. The Campaign

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 135-135

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   2. Campaign Issues and Themes

      • Donatella Campus

      Pages 137-149

   3. The Low-Intensity Media Campaign and a Vote That Comes from Far Back

      • Franca Roncarolo

      Pages 150-170

   4. The New Technologies: the First Internet 2.0 Election

      • Cristopher Cepernich

      Pages 171-189

6. The Outcome

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 191-191

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   2. Italian Voters: Berlusconi’S Victory and the ‘New’ Italian Party System

      • Alessandro Chiaramonte

      Pages 193-210

   3. A Different Legislature? The Parliamentary Scene Following the 2008 Elections

      • Federico Russo, Luca Verzichelli

      Pages 211-227

   4. The Formation Of the Fourth Berlusconi Government

      • Gianfranco Pasquino

      Pages 228-242

   5. Conclusion: a Watershed Election?

      • James L. Newell

      Pages 243-253

7. Back Matter

   Pages 255-266

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A lively account of the general election of 2008 and of its profound significance for Italy and beyond. It gets to grips with the complexities of Italian politics in an exceptionally clear way. Covering the background to the election, the campaign, the parties, voting and the outcome, it is comprehensive in approach and tells a fascinating 'story'.

• campaign
• election
• elections
• European Union (EU)
• government
• Internet
• parliament
• party system
• politics
• voter
• voting

JAMES L. NEWELL is Professor of Politics at the University of Salford, UK. His recent books include Parties and Democracy in Italy; Italian Politics: Adjustment under Duress (with M. Bull); The Italian General Election of 2006 (ed.). He is co-editor of European Political Science and co-convenor of the UK Political Studies Association's (PSA's) Italian Politics Specialist Group.

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