Federalizzazione dell’Italia: the transition of Italian political system through the lenses of constructivist institutionalism
Federalizzazione dell’Italia: the transition of Italian political system through the lenses of constructivist institutionalism

Summary/Abstract: Italy is a state, standing at the crossroads of federalisation. This article traces the ideational and practical application of the federalisation process in Italy, from the lenses of the constructivist insti- tutional theory by Colin Hay and with the application of process-tracing methodology. The research is concentred on the critical junctures and the ideas behind each stage of federalisation since the Tangentopoli crisis of the 1990s. The research findings demonstrate that, firstly, federalisation in Italy is an elite-driven process, where the politicians’ interpretation of Italian federalism affects the outcome of institutional change. Secondly, federalism is a politicised idea, which Italian society and political elite interpret as “the tool for efficient governance” or “the remedy for corruption”. Thirdly, federalism is a supplementary topic in the Italian discourse, which yields ideas connected with economic, social, and political reforms. However, federalism can be used to reinforce the policies from these three layers.

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