A concise history of Italy
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references (pages 307-323) and index.

Since its formation in 1861, Italy has struggled to develop an effective political system and a secure sense of national identity. This introduction charts the country's history from the fall of the Roman Empire in the west to the present day and surveys the difficulties Italy has faced during the last two centuries in forging a nation state. The author weaves together political, economic, social and cultural history, and stresses the alternation between materialist and idealist programes for forging a nation state. This second edition has been revised and updated to offer increased coverage of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Italy, as well as a new section devoted to Italy in the twenty-first century.--adapted from publisher's description.