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This book addresses the process of decentralization in Italy, examined from the perspective of political parties. In particular, it assesses whether and to what extent the dynamics of party competition are likely to shape policy agenda and affect policy change. The author starts by providing a thorough account of the process and history of Italian decentralization and the policy outcomes achieved over time, before discussing how party attention to an issue triggers related policy changes (manipulation of salience). Next, the focus shifts to the concrete positions adopted by parties on decentralization to assess whether the pattern of party competition has been consensual or adversarial, and how this pattern influenced the process of reform (manipulation of position). Finally, the author examines the role of frames in party competition. This volume offers essential research that will prove useful to a variety of audiences, ranging from scholars of territorial and Italian politics to those interested in agenda-setting, policy change, and party politics.
List of contents
Chapter 1 - The Party Politics of Decentralization - Theory, Definitions, Research Design, and Methods.- Chapter 2 - Setting the Scene: The Direction and Pattern of Decentralization In Italy. Chapter 3 - Salience - Putting Decentralization on the Agenda: The Role of Political Parties.- Chapter 4 - Position - Sharp Conflict Or Shared Consensus?.- Chapter 5 - Frames - The Art of Justifying Preferences.- Concluding Remarks.
About the author
Linda Basile is Research Fellow at the Department of Social, Political, and Cognitive Sciences of the University of Siena, Italy. Her work has been published in Party Politics and Regional & Federal Studies.
Summary
This book addresses the process of decentralization in Italy, examined from the perspective of political parties. In particular, it assesses whether and to what extent the dynamics of party competition are likely to shape policy agenda and affect policy change. The author starts by providing a thorough account of the process and history of Italian decentralization and the policy outcomes achieved over time, before discussing how party attention to an issue triggers related policy changes (manipulation of salience). Next, the focus shifts to the concrete positions adopted by parties on decentralization to assess whether the pattern of party competition has been consensual or adversarial, and how this pattern influenced the process of reform (manipulation of position). Finally, the author examines the role of frames in party competition. This volume offers essential research that will prove useful to a variety of audiences, ranging from scholars of territorial and Italian politics to those interested in agenda-setting, policy change, and party politics.
Additional text
“The Party Politics of Decentralization: The Territorial Dimension in Italian Party Agendas by Linda Basile represents an insightful case study on the links between party competition and territorial reforms in Italy. … The Party Politics of Decentralization is a highly recommended read for researchers and students of party politics, and readers fond of quantitative text analysis.” (Patrick Utz, Regional & Federal Studies, October, 26, 2018)
Report
"The Party Politics of Decentralization: The Territorial Dimension in Italian Party Agendas by Linda Basile represents an insightful case study on the links between party competition and territorial reforms in Italy. ... The Party Politics of Decentralization is a highly recommended read for researchers and students of party politics, and readers fond of quantitative text analysis." (Patrick Utz, Regional & Federal Studies, October, 26, 2018)
