The System of Local Government in Italy: A Stress-Test to Traditional Paradigms?

Abstract

AbstractIn 2001 a constitutional reform was approved with the aim to considerably increase the powers and the political autonomy of the Italian Regions. In championing the federalisation of the country, the relations between State and Regions were reshaped. Despite the presence of many typical federal traits, many other essential federal features are missing. The system of local autonomies is one of the most emblematic elements that distinguishes Italy’s decentralised model from traditional federations. According to the theorical approaches to federalism, federations usually adhere to a common paradigm when it comes to local entities: local governments are creatures of the subnational units, whereas non-federal countries follow a different path, in which local entities depend on the central State. Against this background, the chapter explores the hybrid nature of the Italian paradigm, i.e., a system in which relations with local governments cannot be situated in neither of these two groups. In addressing this fuzziness, the chapter gives evidence of the main characteristics of mixed paradigms by emphasizing the components that in the Italian case show significant deviations from the abovementioned dichotomy.