James L Newell - Parties and Democracy in Italy

JAMES L. NEWELL

First published 2000 by Ashgate Publishing

Reissued 2018 by Routledge

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Copyright James L. Newell 2000

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A Library of Congress record exists under LC control number: 99053153

ISBN 13: 978-1-138-72265-1 (hbk)

ISBN 13: 978-1-315-19351-9 (ebk)

First, I would like to thank the series editor, David Arter, for giving me the opportunity to write this book and also for his stimulating and enjoyable company in Madrid. I am grateful too to Dott. Giorgio Cal of Directa srl. for generously supplying the data on which is based. The Italian Chamber of Deputies Library Service, and especially Dott. Francesco Avino, were more than generous with their time and patience in teaching me the intricacies involved in consulting the Italian Parliaments data bases. Staff at the Election Services Unit of the Italian Ministry of the Interior and at the Corte dei conti were so amazingly courteous and disponibili in their provision of data and documentation that, unknown to themselves, they restored my faith in humanity and thankfully helped kill off for me that dreadful old stereotype about unhelpful public servants. I gratefully acknowledge the support of the University of Salford, and especially of Martin Alexander and Geoff Harris, in agreeing to my request for a years study leave on half pay so that Id have sufficient time away from my normal duties to do the writing in something approaching reasonable time. I would also like to acknowledge, with thanks, the support of the University of Salfords Embryonic Research Fund in providing financial assistance towards the cost of the research on which the book is based. Martin Bull has provided intellectual stimulation over the years and has been the challenging co-author of a number of articles in the area of parties and democracy in Italy before this book came to fruition. Serena, and my other Italian relatives and friends, have provided support in a myriad different ways intellectual, material and emotional as have Vicky, Robin and Tom. Above all, I wish to acknowledge the unfailing support and encouragement of my parents. Of the innumerable wonderful attributes for which they will be fondly remembered, their capacity for penetrating and critical thinking was one of the most remarkable. It is to them that I dedicate this book, with my love.