Italy
As Italy navigates a period of rising nationalism and the influence of a far-right government, a mid-20th-century concept has regained attention. Edward Banfield’s notion of “amoral familism”—a social pattern characterized by strong familial loyalty alongside limited trust in wider society—was originally used to interpret the persistent underdevelopment of a rural
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“La Grande Magia,” a Neapolitan postwar play, blurs the line between illusion and reality, highlighting how we often prefer to entertain comforting illusions instead of facing the hard truths. This theme feels vividly relevant today. As we observe with astonishment the current US-American political events, the parallels seem too close
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Arriving in Naples feels like diving into a whirlwind of life, history, and faith, all watched over by the silent, menacing presence of Mount Vesuvius. Streets paved in the historical center by the ancient Greeks now pulse with scooters and voices, each corner reveals layers of stories from centuries ago.
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Italy’s complex history, marked by a century-long fragmentation, a difficult unification, a liberal period followed by 20 years of fascist rule, as well as persisting political and cultural divides, makes it challenging to define a cohesive national identity. Italians historically often felt a stronger connection to their municipalities than to
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