Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Linking Regional Responses to Citizens’ Perceptions: Analytical Framework and the Italian Context Before Covid-19

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Territorial Governance in Times of Crisis

  • 18 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter provides an outline of the book’s analytical framework, with a specific focus on multi-level governance during times of crisis. We delve into the existing literature on this subject and explore the pivotal role played by regional governments in implementing a wide range of national and sub-national policies to address the challenges posed by the pandemic. Moreover, we examine the interplay between these policy responses, the communication strategies employed by regional leaders, and the perceptions of citizens regarding the roles of national and sub-national authorities. In the second part of the chapter, we proceed to contextualize the Italian case and present an overview of the country’s territorial governance. We focus on its distinctive features but also on characteristics, such as the blurring demarcations between federal and unitary state structures, growing political instability, leader-centric party competition and communication, economic uncertainty, and crisis of democratic representation, which make Italy relevant for the study of general trends in Europe and beyond. Additionally, we delve into the evolution of Italy’s regional system leading up to the pandemic. This comprehensive understanding of the Italian context serves as the foundation for the empirical analyses that will be discussed in the subsequent chapters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 34.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 44.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    The regions with a ‘special statute’ enshrined in the 1948 constitutions were Sicilia, Sardegna, Valle d’Aosta, Trentino Alto Adige, and Friuli Venezia Giulia (the latter’s statute was eventually approved in 1963).

References

  • Albertazzi, D., & Vampa, D. (2021). Populism in Europe: Lessons from Umberto Bossi’s Northern League. Manchester University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Albertazzi, D., Giovannini, A. & Seddone, A. (2018). ‘No regionalism please, we are Leghisti!’ Thetransformation of the Italian Lega Nord under the leadership of Matteo Salvini. Regional and Federal Studies, 28(5), 645–671.

    Google Scholar 

  • Albornoz, F., & Cabrales, A. (2013). Decentralization, Political Competition and Corruption. Journal of Development Economics, 105, 103–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alessi, N. P., & Palermo, F. (2022). Intergovernmental Relations and Identity Politics in Italy. In Y. T. Fessha, K. Kössler, & F. Palermo (Eds.), Intergovernmental Relations in Divided Societies. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alonso, S. (2012). Challenging the State: Devolution and the Battle for Partisan Credibility. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amoretti, U. (2011). Italy: Increasing Decentralization, Decreasing Asymmetry. In F. Requejo & K. Nagel (Eds.), Federalism Beyond Federations. Asymmetry and Processes of Resymmetrisation in Europe (pp. 61–80). Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arban, E., Martinico, G., & Palermo, F. (Eds.). (2021). Federalism and Constitutional Law. The Italian Contribution to Comparative Regionalism. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldini, G., & Baldi, B. (2014). Decentralization in Italy and the Troubles of Federalization. Regional & Federal Studies, 24(1), 87–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Béland, D., & Mahon, R. (2023). Advanced Introduction to Social Policy. Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benassi, C., & Mussoni, M. (2013). Efficienza, qualità ed equità dei sistemi di welfare regionali: un confronto tra i modelli di governance. In P. Battilani & C. Benassi (Eds.), Consumare il welfare: L’esperienza italiana del secondo Novecento (pp. 149–192). il Mulino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolgherini, S. (2014). Can Austerity Lead to Recentralisation? Italian Local Government During the Economic Crisis. South European Society and Politics, 12(2), 193–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolleyer, N. (2012). New Party Organization in Western Europe: Of Party Hierarchies, Stratarchies and Federations. Party Politics, 18(3), 315–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Börzel, T. A. (2002). States and Regions in the European Union: Institutional Adaptation in Germany and Spain. Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Capoccia, G., & Keleman, R. D. (2007). The Study of Critical Junctures: Theory, Narrative, and Counterfactuals in Historical Institutionalism. World Politics, 59(3), 341–369.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caramani, D. (2004). The Nationalization of Politics. The Formation of National Electorates and Party Systems in Western Europe. Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceccarini, L., & Bordignon, F. (2017). Referendum on Renzi: The 2016 Vote on the Italian Constitutional Revision. South European Society and Politics, 22(3), 281–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiaramonte, A., & Emanuele, V. (2017). Party System Volatility, Regeneration and De-Institutionalization in Western Europe (1945–2015). Party Politics, 23(4), 376–388.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiaramonte, A., & Emanuele, V. (2022). The Deinstitutionalization of Western European Party Systems. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciarini, A. (2012). Le politiche sociali nelle regioni italiane. Costanti storiche e trasformazioni recenti. il Mulino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Font, J., & Greer, S. L. (Eds.). (2013). Federalism and Decentralization in European Health and Social Care. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cumming, G. (2017). Prototypical Case in the Making? Challenging Comparative Perspectives on French Aid. The European Journal of Development Research, 29(1), 19–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Desideri, C. (2014). A Short History of Regionalism in Italy Since the Republican Constitution. Italian Regionalism and Its Evolution. In S. Mangiameli (Ed.), Italian Regionalism: Between Unitary Traditions and Federal Processes. Investigating Italy’s Form of State (pp. 35–65). Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Escobar-Lemmon, M. (2003). Political Support for Decentralization: An Analysis of the Colombian and Venezuelan Legislatures. American Journal of Political Science, 47(4), 683–697.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faguet, J. (2014). Decentralization and Governance. World Development, 53, 2–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fargion, V. (1997). Geografia della cittadinanza sociale in Italia. Il Mulino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fargion, V. (2005). From the Southern to the Northern Question. Territorial and Social Politics in Italy. In N. McEwen & L. Moreno (Eds.), The Territorial Politics of Welfare (pp. 127–147). Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrera, M. (2006). Le politiche sociali. L’Italia in prospettiva comparata. il Mulino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garzia, D. (2011). The Personalization of Politics in Western Democracies: Causes and Consequences on Leader–Follower Relationships. The Leadership Quarterly, 22(4), 697–709.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giannoni, M., & Hitiris, T. (2002). The Regional Impact of Health Care Expenditure: The Case of Italy. Applied Economics, 34(14), 1829–1836.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giovannini, A. (2021). In the eye of the storm: English local government and the COVID-19 crisis. In: R. Bryson, L. Reardon, L. Andres and A. Ersoy. eds. Living with Pandemics: People, Place and Policy. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giovannini, A. & Vampa, D. (2020). Towards a new era of regionalism in Italy? A comparative perspective on autonomy referendums. Territory Politics Governance, 8(4), 579–597.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gori, C. (2005). Politiche Sociali di Centro Destra, La Riforma del Welfare Lombardo. Carocci.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gori, C. (Ed.). (2011). Come cambia il welfare lombardo. Maggioli Editore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guinjoan, M., & Rodon, T. (2014). Beyond Identities: Political Determinants of Support for Decentralization in Contemporary Spain. Regional & Federal Studies, 24(1), 21–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hague, R., Harrop, M., & Breslin, S. (2004). Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haro-de-Rosario, A., Sáez-Martín, A., & del Carmen Caba-Pérez, M. (2018). Using Social Media to Enhance Citizen Engagement with Local Government: Twitter or Facebook?. New Media & Society, 20(1), 29–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, D. K. (1972). Theories of Government Related to Decentralization and Citizen Participation. Public Administration Review, 32, 603–621.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooghe, L., Marks, G., & Schakel, A. H. (2010). The Rise of Regional Authority: A Comparative Study of 42 Democracies. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, R., & Mair, P. (2018). Democracy and the Cartelization of Political Parties. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keating, M. (1997). The Political Economy of Regionalism. In M. Keating & J. Loughlin (Eds.), The Political Economy of Regionalism (pp. 19–43). Frank Cass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keating, M. (2013). Rescaling the European State: The Making of Territory and the Rise of the Meso. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovari, A., & Valentini, C. (2020). Public Sector Communication and Social Media: Opportunities and Limits of Current Policies, Activities, and Practices. In V. Louma-aho & M. Canel (Eds.), The Handbook of Public Sector Communication (pp. 315–328). Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maino, F., & Pavolini, E. (2008). Il welfare sanitario in Europa tra decentramento e ri-accentramento. La Rivista delle Politiche Sociali, 3, 79–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mangiameli, S. (2014). The Regions and the Reforms: Issues Resolved and Problems Pending. In S. Mangiameli (Ed.), Italian Regionalism: Between Unitary Traditions and Federal Processes. Investigating Italy’s Form of State (pp. 1–33). Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mariucci, L. (1999). L’elezione diretta del Presidente della Regione e la nuova forma di governo regionale. Istituzioni del federalismo, 6, 1149–1164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsen, S. (2020). Navigating Crisis: The Role of Communication in Organizational Crisis. International Journal of Business Communication, 57(2), 163–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marynissen, H., & Lauder, M. (2020). Stakeholder-Focused Communication Strategy During Crisis: A Case Study Based on the Brussels Terror Attacks. International Journal of Business Communication, 57(2), 176–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morlino, L. (1996). Crisis of Parties and Change of Party System in Italy. Party Politics, 2(1), 5–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musella, F. (2020). The Personalization of Italian Political Parties in Three Acts. Contemporary Italian Politics, 12(4), 411–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neri, S. (2008). Italia. La costruzione dei servizi sanitari regionali e la governance del sistema sanitario. La Rivista delle Politiche Sociali, 3, 97–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2019). Making Decentralisation Work: A Handbook for Policy-Makers, OECD Multi-level Governance Studies, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/g2g9faa7-en.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palermo, F., & Wilson, A. (2014). The Multi-level Dynamics of State Decentralization in Italy. Comparative European Politics, 7(4–5), 510–530.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavolini, E. (2008). Governance regionali: modelli e stime di performance. La Rivista delle Politiche Sociali, 3, 149–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavolini, E., & Vicarelli, G. (2013). Le due Italie della sanità. In S. Vassallo (Ed.), Il divario incolmabile: Rappresentanza politica e rendimento istituzionale nelle regioni italiane (pp. 193–222). il Mulino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, G. B. (1998). Comparative Politics: Theories and Methods. Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poguntke, T., & Webb, P. (Eds.). (2005). The Presidentialization of Politics in Democratic Societies. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Requejo, F. (2001). National Pluralism and Federalism. Four Potential Scenarios for Spanish Plurinational Democracy. Perspectives on European Politics and Society, 2(2), 30–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, R. (1991). Comparing Forms of Comparative Analysis. Political Studies, 39(3), 446–462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sagner, A., 2011. Relazione Sociale 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sagner, A., 2013. Relazione Sociale 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saraceno, C. (1994). The Ambivalent Familism of the Italian Welfare State. Social Politics, 1(1), 60–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Signorelli, C., et al. (2020). Universal Health Coverage in Italy: Lights and Shades of the Italian National Health Service Which Celebrated Its 40th Anniversary. Health Policy, 124(1), 69–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toubeau, S., & Vampa, D. (2021). Adjusting to Austerity. The Public Spending Responses of Regional Governments to the Budget Constraint in Spain and Italy (2002–2015). Journal of Public Policy, 41(3), 462–388.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trigilia, C. (1986). Small-Firm Development and Political Subcultures in Italy. European Sociological Review, 2(3), 161–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turati, G. (2013). The Italian Servizio Sanitario Nazionale: A Renewing Tale of Lost Promises. In J. Costa-Font & S. L. Greer (Eds.), Federalism and Decentralization in European Health and Social Care (pp. 47–66). Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vampa, D. (2015). The 2015 Regional Election in Italy: Fragmentation and Crisis of Sub-national Democracy. Regional & Federal Studies, 25(4), 365–378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vampa, D. (2016). The Regional Politics of Welfare in Italy, Spain and Great Britain. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vampa, D. (2021a). Translating Votes into Seats and Offices: Changing Representation and Government in the Italian Regions (2018–2020). Contemporary Italian Politics, 13(4), 485–505.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vampa, D. (2021b). The 2020 Regional Elections in Italy: Sub-national Politics in the Year of the Pandemic. Contemporary Italian Politics, 13(2), 166–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vampa, D. (2023). Multi-level Political Change: Assessing Electoral Volatility in 58 European Regions (1993–2022). Party Politics. https://doi.org/10.1177/13540688231176052

  • Vandelli, L. (2014). Il Governo Locale. il Mulino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vassallo, S. (Ed.). (2013). Il divario incolmabile: Rappresentanza politica e rendimento istituzionale nelle regioni italiane. il Mulino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Viesti, G. (2021). Centri e periferie: Europa, Italia, Mezzogiorno dal XX al XXI Secolo. Laterza.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vraga, E. K., & Bode, L. (2017). Using Expert Sources to Correct Health Misinformation in Social Media. Science Communication, 39(5), 621–645.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weaver, R. K. (2020). Policy Dynamics in Federal Systems: A Framework for Analysis. Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 50(2), 157–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willett, J., & Giovannini, A. (2014). The Uneven Path of English Devolution: Top Down Versus Bottom up Regionalism in England – Cornwall and the North East compared. Political Studies, 62(2), 343–360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, A. (2009). Coalition Formation and Party Systems in the Italian Regions. Regional & Federal Studies, 19(1), 57–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, A. (2015). Direct Election of Regional Presidents and Party Change in Italy. Modern Italy, 20(5), 185–198.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economic, Society and Politics, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy

    Arianna Giovannini

  2. Department of Cultures, Politics and Society, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Antonella Seddone

  3. School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Davide Vampa

Authors
  1. Arianna Giovannini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Antonella Seddone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Davide Vampa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arianna Giovannini .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Giovannini, A., Seddone, A., Vampa, D. (2024). Linking Regional Responses to Citizens’ Perceptions: Analytical Framework and the Italian Context Before Covid-19. In: Territorial Governance in Times of Crisis. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48031-7_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation