tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73414244715586022782012-01-28T16:30:44.486ZJayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02972069072493685713noreply@blogger.comBlogger531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-74331824036340960232012-01-28T16:26:00.002Z2012-01-28T16:30:44.495Z

25 January One of the consequences of living through uncertain economic times is that on the back of ‘crises’, ‘recession’ and ‘downturns’, big projects, quick fixes and new world orders are not far behind. This is another moment which has produced more pessimistic prognoses for the future and it comes as a timely reminder that it is now 80 years since the publication of Aldous Huxley’s

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Open Democracy 14 December He has gone, but he’s not out. The atmosphere of Silvio Berlusconi's departure from the post of prime minister on 12 November 2011 may have been characteristically undignified, as his route from his Palazzo Grazioli residence in Rome to the presidential palace echoed to onlookers' jeers of "buffoon" and "shame". Yet if something of a "circus" continued to surround

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Sunday 4 DecemberThe almost universal sigh of relief – ‘celebration’ is not the right word – felt by Italy’s European allies at the departure of Silvio Berlusconi and his replacement with Mario Monti as Italian Prime Minister has now passed. Monti’s honeymoon is over and he has now set out his first reforms to tackle the real economic problems. This estimated 24 billion euro programme has to

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5 November At times during the G20 summit in Cannes, Silvio Berlusconi looked the most relaxed of all the world leaders, smiling and joking and mingling with his counterparts, seemingly undeterred by the crisis escalating around him. At previous gatherings, his flamboyant attempts to deflect attention from problems at home have resulted in inappropriate comments about female political leaders,

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26 October As EU leaders wait anxiously for confirmation that the Italian government has come up with a coherent fiscal reform package to ease the Eurozone crisis, Silvio Berlusconi, facing his biggest battle, has agreed to step down early. He was given an ultimatum to bring concrete evidence of these reforms to today’s meeting and this seems to be the cost of his political failures. Without

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MSN 25 August The sharp fall in Italian markets over recent weeks has plunged Italy into a severe economic crisis, with the alarming prospect of the third largest economy in the Eurozone asking for a bailout. Emergency meetings between Italian government officials and EU officials were followed by the decision of the European Central Bank (ECB) to buy Italian government bonds and thereby

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published on MSN 27 JulyThe last few weeks have seen an extraordinary change in the relationship between Rupert Murdoch, the political class and British public opinion. For years, Labour and Conservative leaders have courted and dined the media mogul, with an unspoken acceptance that his support and that of his papers was crucial for any election victory. The ‘Hackgate’ scandal has changed all

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20 June - Open DemocracyMilan’s Piazza Duomo, the vast cathedral square in the centre of the great north Italian city, was packed on 30 May 2011 with jubilant supporters of the opposition to Italy’s longest-serving post-war prime minister. Silvio Berlusconi. They were celebrating what many see as a decisive victory: the first electoral defeat of the ruling party in Milan during his time in power,

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On 17 March 2011, Italy celebrated its150th birthday. The movement for independence known as the Risorgimento - forged out of years of wars, revolutions and rebellions - led finally to the proclamation of an Italian nation in 1861, with its first parliament in Turin.It is natural then that the most prominent anniversary celebrations took place in that city, including many cultural events - as

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Open Democracy 16 February A European political leader whose name has long been associated with scandal is now facing his gravest legal challenge. On 15 February 2011, prosecutors in Milan called Italy’s prime minister Silvio Berlusconi for trial on two charges: procuring the services of a then 17-year-old girl called Karima El Mahroug for sex, and abusing power by negotiating with the police in

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Open Democracy 14 December Silvio Berlusconi has survived - just. On successive days, 13-14 December 2010, the prime minister won a vote of confidence in both houses of the Italian parliament (senate and chamber of deputies), which if lost would have led to his resignation and/or a new general election. His majority in the senate was comfortable thanks to the preponderance of his allies there

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Open Democracy 21/10/10The test of Silvio Berlusconi’s capacity to endure widespread criticism of his leadership has become more severe than ever over recent months. He remains Italy’s longest serving post-war prime minister (over three separate terms - 1994-95, 2001-06and from 2008). But the problems surrounding him are mounting.He has become embroiled in an intense conflict with Gianfranco Fini

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-16232662469414380012010-06-09T07:27:00.004+01:002010-09-20T22:36:57.620+01:00

Open Democracy It has been clear for a long time that Silvio Berlusconi is a leader very far from the classic professional politician of the western liberal-democratic mould. Rather, Italy’s premier is a postmodern populist who employs a highly personalised style of leadership in which television plays a central part. His rule during three periods in office (1994-95, 2001-06, 2008-) has been a

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Geoff Andrews, Financial Times Last week’s regional elections in Italy provided an opportunity for a change of direction that could lead to a new season of reform. The elections followed months of uncertainty, with Silvio Berlusconi’s troubles escalating with almost daily allegations about Mafia association, sex scandals, media interference and bribery charges. Yet, not only did he come through

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1. Valori. Quali sono i vostri valori politici al di là dell'antiberlusconismo?«L'antiberlusconismo non è un valore in sé. La realtà è che il modo in cui Berlusconi ha governato l'Italia negli ultimi 15 anni è agli antipodi rispetto ai nostri valori fondativi. Noi vogliamo una democrazia libera e forte, intesa come partecipazione, inclusione, solidarietà e come assunzione di responsabilità in

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Open Democracy 16 February1/ What political values do you hold other than anti-Berlusconism?2/ Why didn’t the centre left pass legislation regulating conflicts of interest when it was in office? 3/ What is your alternative vision of Italy and what idea of social justice does it incorporate? 4/ What is your view of globalisation and how do you see Italy’s role in it?5/ How will you increase

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(La Repubblica 13 Feb)Dieci domande all'opposizione. Sulla scia delle dieci domande presentate l'estate scorsa da Repubblica a Berlusconi, un convegno di italianisti, accademici e giornalisti britannici lancia un decalogo al centrosinistra italiano. L'idea nasce dalla conferenza "Berlusconi and beyond: prospects for Italy" (Berlusconi e oltre: prospettive per l'Italia), organizzata ieri a

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LE DIECI DOMANDE(La Stampa 13 Feb www.lastampa.it/paci) 1 quali sono i vostri principali valori politici al di là dell’anti berlusconismo?2 perché quando l’opposizione ha avuto la possibilità di governare non ha regolamentato il conflitto di interessi?3 quale è la visione della società italiana del futuro e per quale tipo di giustizia sociale vi schierate?4 qual è la vostra visione della

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Berlusconi and Beyond: Prospects For Italy, Birmingham and Midland Institute, Margaret St. Birmingham 11.00 Coffee 11.30-1.30: Berlusconi and After. Roundtable discussion with Bill Emmott, ex-editor of The Economist, Paola Subacchi (Chatham House), James Newell (Salford University), Francesco Grillo (Vision) and Daniele Albertazzi (birmingham University) 1.30-2.30: Lunch 2.30-4.00: Prospects for

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3 February, Open Democracy It is ten years since Bettino Craxi, Italy’s former Prime Minister and Silvio Berlusconi’s patron, died in exile in Tunisia. Craxi had left Italy in 1994 - the year Silvio Berlusconi took power for the first time – in disgrace, fleeing from justice as the most prominent beneficiary of the political corruption scandal known as ‘Tangentopoli’. He was pursued not only by

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Vision, 6 November ‘Berlusconismo’, the way of ruling which has dominated Italian politics in recent years, has largely been seen as a specifically Italian phenomenon. The roots of this type of rule, consisting of a new populist rapport with the people, control and effective use of a range of media – but notably TV – and continual undermining of Italy’s traditional political class and

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Open Democracy 13 - 10 - 2009 The latest legal verdict on Silvio Berlusconi is - it would seem - a cause for cheer among democrats in Europe, and indeed all those who believe in press freedom, the rule of law, transparency and accountability. For in its ruling of 7 October 2009, Italy's constitutional court decided that that the law passed in 2008 by a simple parliamentary majority granting

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31 August 2009L'INTERVISTA. Parla Geoff Andrews, storico e fondatore del sito Open democracy"Dal premier italiano un comportamento assai insolito, perlomeno in una democrazia" Le denunce di Berlusconi?"Reazioni di un leader in difficoltà"dal nostro corrispondente ENRICO FRANCESCHINI LONDRA - "Sono le reazioni di un leader in ansia, che si sente sempre più isolato e in difficoltà". Geoff Andrews,

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-88259438542746097022009-08-06T20:23:00.001+01:002009-08-06T20:23:53.665+01:00

Sir, Franco Frattini (Letters, August 4th) is surely correct to lament the resort to stereotypes when writing about Italy. But, as Italy’s foreign minister, he in turn should avoid trotting out the standard lines laid down by his prime minister about his country's economy when a mere glance at the facts will show them to be utterly false.Contrary to his claim that Italy “is exhibiting remarkable

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-54246833562106464072009-08-04T19:57:00.001+01:002009-08-04T20:00:07.857+01:00

Fitness to govern is determined by electorateFrom Mr Franco Frattini.Sir, Stereotypes are generally not worth debating, but when they feature in a Financial Times article (“Italy’s problem do not end with Berlusconi”, Geoff Andrews, July 31) they deserve a comment.Pundits have predicted Italy’s decline for decades: in spite of these doomsayers, Italy remains one of the world’s leading industrial

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Financial Times, 31 JulyThe now daily revelations about Silvio Berlusconi’s sex life suggest to many a leader unfit to govern. Yet in the extensive coverage in the international press and the growing condemnation of the Italian prime minister’s behaviour, bigger problems are being missed that go to the heart of Italy’s decline and which will not be remedied solely by his removal from office.The

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Open Democracy 27 - 07 - 2009 The exposure of Silvio Berlusconi's public-personal behaviour continues. The website of L'Espresso magazine has made available audio-tapes containing sordid details of the Italian prime minister's alleged overnight tryst with a prostitute on the very evening of Barack Obama's election as United States president, 4-5 November 2008. In a sense, however, it is the way

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Open Democracy 10 - 07 - 2009 The earthquake-shattered Italian town chosen to host the G8 summit is also the site of a passionate citizens’ protest against Silvio Berlusconi and for justice, reports Geoff Andrews. The location for the Group of Eight (G8) summit of 8-10 July 2009 - the town of L'Aquila, in the region of Abruzzo, devastated by an earthquake on 6 April which killed around 300

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La Repubblica, 4 July, 2009"A causa dell'erosione della vita politica del Paese di cui Berlusconi si è resoresponsabile nemmeno la sua dipartita potrebbe offrire all'Italia una chiara via verso il rinnovamento"Silvio Berlusconi, lo statista-populista di maggior successo dell'era moderna, ha messo a punto ormai da molto tempo l'arte di passare oltre la testa dei politici di professione per mirare

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Open Democracy, 29 - 06 - 2009 The Italian prime minister's corrosion of the country’s public life means that even his departure would offer Italy no clear route to renewal, says Geoff Andrews. 29 - 06 - 2009Silvio Berlusconi, the most successful populist politician of modern times, has long mastered the art of appealing over the heads of professional politicians to reach the "bellies" rather

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-86305938730891690582009-06-10T17:52:00.002+01:002009-06-10T17:55:20.184+01:00

Open Democracy 9 June The response from Italians to my article on openDemocracy posing ten questions to Silvio Berlusconi has been overwhelming. Many have expressed their deep anger at the Italian prime minister's public and private behaviour, which provoked the questions in the first place (see "Silvio Berlusconi: ten more questions", 1 June 2009 - and the many comments from Italian citizens,

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La Repubblica 2 June 2009ROMA - Dopo Repubblica, l'organizzazione no-profit britannica Open Democracy, che promuove il rispetto dei diritti umani e della democrazia, rivolge a Silvio Berlusconi altre dieci domande. Sul sito, Geoff Andrews - accademico e cronista esperto di affari italiani, oltre che autore di un libro recente sul nostro paese, pubblicato in Gran Bretagna e tradotto anche in

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Open Democracy, 1 June 2009Dear Signor Berlusconi, It is now nearly three weeks since La Repubblica published its list of ten questions in connection with your relationship to Noemi Letizia. You have chosen not to answer their questions, claiming that the newspaper's initiative was part of a campaign organised by the left. In the weeks since, you have accused La Repubblica of orchestrating a

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The political use of a medical tragedy is the latest episode in Italy's alarming regression, says Geoff Andrews. Open Democracy 19 - 02 - 2009The death of a young woman after seventeen years in a coma, following a decision by doctors on legal advice not to continue feeding her, is a public as well as a private event. In a mature democratic society, it would merit dignified ethical debate of a

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-24804626127479688312008-10-26T22:12:00.004Z2008-10-26T22:22:46.532Z

Open Democracy, 22 OctoberThe phenomenon of the Italian mafia has been depicted by many writers and filmmakers. Roberto Saviano's book Gomorrah - a gripping, unsentimental expose of the mafia in the southern city of Napoli, first published in May 2006 - is one of the very best. Its literary success, and the great acclaim which the film based on it has received, is also a measure of the Italian

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-36103418920564179552008-09-08T03:35:00.001+01:002008-09-08T03:57:34.232+01:00

8 SeptemberBefore the Italian general election in April commentators were talking up the benefits a new period of consensus politics could bring for the Italian economy. Some even talked of a grand coalition, where much needed institutional reforms – including a change in the electoral system – would be the basis for a more stable economy. However, the bickering and continual crises which made

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-17714455601545388752008-07-17T21:17:00.006+01:002008-07-17T21:45:01.677+01:00

17 July 2008,The belated prosecution of Italian police for the brutality at the Genoa G8 summit of 2001 has fuelled discussion over the role of politicians in that nasty episode and the continual degeneration of the Italian state and judicial system which still make it unlikely that justice will be forthcoming. Here is my diary of that event which was originally published in Open Democracy.An

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-57430588573080030672008-04-18T00:21:00.005+01:002008-04-18T10:00:53.117+01:00

Open Democracy 17/4/08In the end, it was Silvio Berlusconi who produced the surprises. The leader of the Popolo delle Libertà (People of Freedom) coalition managed to overcome age, an absurd electoral system, and the economic failures of his 2001-06 government to secure a clear majority in both houses in Italy's general election of 13-14 April 2008. He was helped by the powerful surge of the Lega

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-23508710586663998982008-03-10T01:25:00.004Z2008-03-23T14:21:30.503Z

Financial Times, 10 March 2008. Wolfgang Munchau’s argument that Italy needs a grand coalition to halt economic decline and drive through reform has been given greater weight in recent weeks. Walter Veltroni’s new Democratic party has begun to close the gap significantly on his rival, Silvio Berlusconi, ensuring another close contest in next month’s general election, while recent polls show a

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-44597570737139620372008-01-31T00:55:00.001Z2008-03-17T01:59:41.642Z

Open Democracy, 31 January 2008. The collapse of Italy's centre-left government is far more than just another political crisis, says Geoff Andrews.These are desperate times in Italian politics. The raucous, chaotic and humiliating scenes witnessed in the Italian parliament which brought the fall of Romano Prodi's centre-left government on 24 January 2008 have thrown the country into turmoil. The

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-62947405831819079092007-10-22T00:51:00.004+01:002009-02-21T11:50:11.474Z

21 February. Walter Veltroni this week resigned as leader of Italy's Democratic Party, leaving the opposition to Berlusconi in disarray. This is what I said in Open Democracy following his election as party leader in October 2007.Walter Veltroni promises a new era of political reform in Italy led by the modernising centre-left. Hmm, says Geoff Andrews.These should be exciting times in Italian

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-2791729685482149982007-07-03T00:48:00.000+01:002008-03-16T00:50:53.020Z

Open Democracy, 3 July 2007Italy's hopes of political reform depend on the emerging leader of the centre-left, says Geoff Andrews.The press dubbed it "Veltroni day", but when the current mayor of Rome and hot favourite to lead Italy's new Democratic Party finished his ninety-minute speech in Turin on 27 June 2007 which formally announced his candidature, a new phase in Italian politics had begun.

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-7282902278559352042007-02-27T00:42:00.001Z2008-03-16T00:45:01.850Z

Open Democracy, 27 February 2007The crisis surrounding Italy's centre-left prime minister casts a bleak light on efforts to reform the country's weak and battered polity, says Geoff Andrews.The last week in Italian politics, since prime minister Romano Prodi offered his resignation on 21 February after losing a crucial foreign-policy vote in the upper chamber of parliament, has been a time of

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-80789621554806826092007-01-09T00:24:00.002Z2008-03-16T00:29:48.385Z

Financial Times, 9th January 2007Romano Prodi has described 2007 as "the year of change ". The Italian prime minister intends to embark on "phase two " of reforming the country after the Berlusconi years. But, whatever happens, his main challenge will remain the same: holding together a disparate nine-party coalition. After a bitter fight, he succeeded in pushing through a new budget - the main

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-5584456069781614992006-12-12T00:19:00.001Z2008-03-16T00:41:21.662Z

Open Democracy, 12 December 2006The elusive figure of Mario Scaramella is at the heart of the story of Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian intelligence official murdered by radiation poisoning in London. The man and the case are mesmerising Italy, reports Geoff Andrews.At the end of Nanni Moretti's film, Il Caimano (The Cayman), supporters of Silvio Berlusconi stone the magistrates and set

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-84960492400841713342006-07-09T00:16:00.000+01:002008-03-16T00:40:09.285Z

Open Democracy, 9 July 2006The success of Italy's football team in the world cup could inspire a renaissance in the country's public life, says Geoff Andrews.Italy on the night of 9 July 2006 was a place to dissolve any doubts about the capacity of football to restore a sense of national pride. As Italians streamed onto the streets and piazzas under a crescendo of horns and whistles to celebrate

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-4578912081695961432006-05-30T00:01:00.002+01:002008-03-16T00:39:00.822Z

Open Democracy, 30 May 2006The centre-left revival in Italy has not extended to Sicily's regional election, but Rita Borsellino's campaign has highlighted a larger campaign for ethics and justice in Italian politics, reports Geoff Andrews.The local elections across Italy on 28-29 May 2006 saw significant successes for representatives of the country's centre-left government elected in the general

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-79080980969906526092006-04-10T23:58:00.001+01:002008-03-16T00:38:25.727Z

Open Democracy, 10 April 2006Italy's knife-edge election result leaves its political future, and Silvio Berlusconi’s legacy, unresolved. Geoff Andrews reports.At 3pm on Monday 10 April, I arrived at Piazza Santi Apostoli, the Rome base of the centre-left Unione coalition, for the first exit poll. At 3am the following morning I was still there, having just heard Romano Prodi declare victory for

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-54503716689203706792006-04-05T23:54:00.001+01:002008-03-16T00:37:07.601Z

Open Democracy, 5 April 2006The worst of old Sicily – corruption, patronage, entropy – has become endemic in Italy itself under Silvio Berlusconi, veteran anti-mafia campaigner and centre-left candidate Leoluca Orlando tells Geoff Andrews."What we need after Berlusconi is a boring, serious leader. I said to Prodi before the first ‘face-to-face’ TV debate: ‘Romano, I hope you will be very boring.

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-91216981352718226422006-03-28T23:48:00.001+01:002008-03-16T00:36:19.346Z

Open Democracy, 28 March 2006Italy's showman-leader has lost his touch, but have his centre-left opponents found the way to defeat him? Geoff Andrews reports on an unpredictable Italian election.These should be the last days of Silvio Berlusconi. Each morning finds him in a more desperate condition than the last, and his old tricks no longer seem to work. His tirades against the judges and the

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-59892937313351751542006-02-01T23:43:00.001Z2008-03-16T00:34:17.534Z

Open Democracy, 1 February 2006Silvio Berlusconi hopes that an intense media blitz will help sustain him in power, but Geoff Andrews finds that Italy's comedians and artists have other ideas.The Italian general election, now set for 9 April 2006, will be one of the most important of the last sixty years. It will also be one of the dirtiest. Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's richest man and prime

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-90699194751318318332005-11-01T23:35:00.001Z2008-03-16T00:33:14.040Z

Open Democracy, 1 November 2005The career and achievement of the filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini is being celebrated thirty years after his brutal murder, but the political controversy surrounding his death haunts Italy still, says Geoff Andrews.In the early hours of 2 November 1975, the body of Pier Paolo Pasolini – writer, poet, film director and one of Italy’s leading intellectuals – was found

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7341424471558602278.post-62878543895563405172005-08-02T23:10:00.002+01:002008-03-17T01:57:15.566Z

Open Democracy, 2 August 2005. The northern Italian city of Bologna, hit by terrorists in August 1980, memorialised as well as mourned. London could take heart from its response, says Geoff Andrews.On 2 August 1980, a bomb planted by neo-fascists ripped through the waiting-room of Bologna railway station, killing 85 people and injuring more than 200. It exploded on the morning of the first

Geoff Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15870495255840196174noreply@blogger.com