While the pandemic has monopolised attention over the past two years, it’s far from the only story, as tectonic changes continue on the world stage and the “great transition” picks up pace.As well as the traditional dynamics of international power, torn between US-China bipolarism and the ambitions of old and new regional actors, this Report explores the other major transitions taking place. Firstly, the economic transition of a world deeper and deeper in debt and now seeing the return of state intervention. Secondly, the transition of the democracies and international law, or more precisely, their dual “crisis” in the face of contrasting models. And thirdly, the environmental and digital transitions, which will be key features of the decades to come. Intertwining inextricably with each other, these transitions will shape the major trends in regional politics and, in turn, be shaped by them. That’s why Italy and Europe are facing momentous challenges, which the ISPI Report 2022 strives to outline, to equip readers with a compass for a changing world.
Uncertainties have piled up over the past decade, casting doubt on the stability of the international system. They have been further compounded and exacerbated by last year’s events: from Brexit, and the ensuing uncertainty about the future of the UK-EU relations, to the ever-growing success of populist and nationalist movements across Europe; from the unnerving paralysis of the international community on the war in Syria, to the new wave of terrorist attacks in Europe, to the new economic and political crises of pivotal states (Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, and Turkey) in their respective regions. Not to mention Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, which may turn out to be a new and momentous source of uncertainty, especially with regard to US-EU relations, the residual resilience of the multilateral framework, as well as the international economic balance of power. The 2017 ISPI Report analyses how last year’s major events add to international uncertainties, also with a view to identifying long-term, beyond-the-horizon trends. The first part of the Report focuses on the evolution of the international context, from both a political and an economic standpoint. The second part shifts the spotlight to Italy, where global uncertainties overlap with deep-rooted domestic uncertainties and vulnerabilities.
The international system is going through a phase of heightened disorder. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and the Israel-Hamas conflict in late 2023 have shown that the current crisis of the international order is being increasingly militarized. Facing wars and instability closer to home, and a rise in big-power competition, Europe is feeling less and less “secure”.This year’s ISPI Report unpacks the different dimensions of the current “Age of Insecurity”, looking into its political, economic, and demographic facets. It shows how different actors in the international system tackle such insecurity (while also contributing to create more), with a focus on the United States, China, Russia, India and the “Global South”, and the main protagonists of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.It finally zooms in on Europe, looking for viable options that could help the continent better face these rising political, economic, and demographic insecurities.
Unprecedented and unpredictable: this is how US President Donald Trump’s administration has repeatedly been labelled during its first term. Beyond the frequent tweets and bombastic rhetoric, however, lie a more conventional four years, as the United States navigated an ever-evolving international reality, compounded by a global pandemic and one of the deepest economic recessions in over a century.This Report analyses the continuity and changes that occurred during Trump’s first term. Domestically, it investigates the growing political polarization, the country’s pre-pandemic economic performance, Trump’s approach towards regular and irregular migration, and the US’ response to a healthcare emergency. At the international level, this volume looks at how the US stance has changed vis-à-vis China, the Middle East, and Europe.Which long-term trends has President Trump had to ride through? What was his trademark, and what might be his lasting legacy?
The current trade war between the US and China looks like a small piece in a much larger puzzle over world leadership in which China plays the part of the ascending challenger seeking to upset the existing balance of power. Technology and innovation seem to be Beijing’s weapons of choice in its frontal assault on Washington in sectors traditionally led by the US. China is not only acquiring technology. Its ambitions include the regulation of international trade and global governance. Just what a China-led global order would look like is still unclear, but the inherent side-effects of technology need to be meticulously assessed, as they have the potential to alter the core values of modern societies. To what extent will technology facilitate China’s rise?
2017 is a crucial year for Iran. In January, while the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) entered the second year of implementation, in Washington the Trump Administration took office, with the promise to “renegotiate a disastrous deal”. In May, in Tehran, the incumbent President Hassan Rouhani won re-election by a wide margin. This Report intends to trace what lies ahead for Iran after the May 2017 Rouhani’s re-election. The analysis builds upon the assumption that Iran does not act in a vacuum: the US, as well as the EU actions, will inevitably help define the future trajectory of the country. A trajectory which is set domestically also by the generational transition Tehran is going through. The inter-factional struggle affecting Iran since the early years of the Revolution is now revived by what is actually at stake: the very future of the Islamic Republic.
Over the last eight years the Syrian conflict has developed into one of the worst humanitarian tragedies of modern times. More than half a million victims, 5 million refugees abroad and 6 million internally displaced: the figures only capture part of Syria’s catastrophe. In addition, there is the less quantifiable damage to the country’s social fabric. Against this dramatic backdrop, this ISPI Report aims to answer a few crucial questions: how can a country whose society has gone through such traumas and destruction reimagine itself and its future? What conditions would allow those Syrians who were forced to leave their homes to return? And what are the regional and international dynamics and interests that will shape Syria’s future? The Report provides the reader with key tools to understand where Syria is headed and what can be done to avoid the worst scenarios.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, global geopolitical relations are being shaken to their roots, and Latin America is no different. The region is experiencing new transformations in political, economic, and societal terms. In turn, all these rapid changes are having an impact on how Latin American countries shape their own foreign policies, and on how they adapt to the challenges of an increasingly multipolar world. How are the US, China, and the EU competing in terms of political alliances and economic projection on the Latin American region? And how are some of the main Latin American countries (namely Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela) contributing to shape these new regional dynamics?
This textbook presents applicative examples of the main methods of structural analysis of statically indeterminate frame structures. It begins with a brief description of the kinematic analysis for plane frames. The Force Method, the Displacement Method and the Mixed method are applied for the solutions of statically indeterminate plane structures. The book first deals with the solution of simple reference cases where the most common structural situations, such as inclined rods, extensional and rotational springs, thermal variations, symmetry and anti-symmetry (just to mention some of them) are treated singularly. It then reports the complete solution of complex plane frames where the most common structural situations, individually analyzed in the previous chapter, are combined. Given the diverse and wide range of examples covered, the volume represents an ideal learning resource for students of Civil and Building Engineering and Architecture, and a valuable reference guide for structural engineering professionals.
Uncertainties have piled up over the past decade, casting doubt on the stability of the international system. They have been further compounded and exacerbated by last year’s events: from Brexit, and the ensuing uncertainty about the future of the UK-EU relations, to the ever-growing success of populist and nationalist movements across Europe; from the unnerving paralysis of the international community on the war in Syria, to the new wave of terrorist attacks in Europe, to the new economic and political crises of pivotal states (Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, and Turkey) in their respective regions. Not to mention Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, which may turn out to be a new and momentous source of uncertainty, especially with regard to US-EU relations, the residual resilience of the multilateral framework, as well as the international economic balance of power. The 2017 ISPI Report analyses how last year’s major events add to international uncertainties, also with a view to identifying long-term, beyond-the-horizon trends. The first part of the Report focuses on the evolution of the international context, from both a political and an economic standpoint. The second part shifts the spotlight to Italy, where global uncertainties overlap with deep-rooted domestic uncertainties and vulnerabilities.
While the pandemic has monopolised attention over the past two years, it’s far from the only story, as tectonic changes continue on the world stage and the “great transition” picks up pace.As well as the traditional dynamics of international power, torn between US-China bipolarism and the ambitions of old and new regional actors, this Report explores the other major transitions taking place. Firstly, the economic transition of a world deeper and deeper in debt and now seeing the return of state intervention. Secondly, the transition of the democracies and international law, or more precisely, their dual “crisis” in the face of contrasting models. And thirdly, the environmental and digital transitions, which will be key features of the decades to come. Intertwining inextricably with each other, these transitions will shape the major trends in regional politics and, in turn, be shaped by them. That’s why Italy and Europe are facing momentous challenges, which the ISPI Report 2022 strives to outline, to equip readers with a compass for a changing world.
The international system is going through a phase of heightened disorder. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and the Israel-Hamas conflict in late 2023 have shown that the current crisis of the international order is being increasingly militarized. Facing wars and instability closer to home, and a rise in big-power competition, Europe is feeling less and less “secure”.This year’s ISPI Report unpacks the different dimensions of the current “Age of Insecurity”, looking into its political, economic, and demographic facets. It shows how different actors in the international system tackle such insecurity (while also contributing to create more), with a focus on the United States, China, Russia, India and the “Global South”, and the main protagonists of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.It finally zooms in on Europe, looking for viable options that could help the continent better face these rising political, economic, and demographic insecurities.
Unprecedented and unpredictable: this is how US President Donald Trump’s administration has repeatedly been labelled during its first term. Beyond the frequent tweets and bombastic rhetoric, however, lie a more conventional four years, as the United States navigated an ever-evolving international reality, compounded by a global pandemic and one of the deepest economic recessions in over a century.This Report analyses the continuity and changes that occurred during Trump’s first term. Domestically, it investigates the growing political polarization, the country’s pre-pandemic economic performance, Trump’s approach towards regular and irregular migration, and the US’ response to a healthcare emergency. At the international level, this volume looks at how the US stance has changed vis-à-vis China, the Middle East, and Europe.Which long-term trends has President Trump had to ride through? What was his trademark, and what might be his lasting legacy?
This textbook presents applicative examples of the main methods of structural analysis of statically indeterminate frame structures. It begins with a brief description of the kinematic analysis for plane frames. The Force Method, the Displacement Method and the Mixed method are applied for the solutions of statically indeterminate plane structures. The book first deals with the solution of simple reference cases where the most common structural situations, such as inclined rods, extensional and rotational springs, thermal variations, symmetry and anti-symmetry (just to mention some of them) are treated singularly. It then reports the complete solution of complex plane frames where the most common structural situations, individually analyzed in the previous chapter, are combined. Given the diverse and wide range of examples covered, the volume represents an ideal learning resource for students of Civil and Building Engineering and Architecture, and a valuable reference guide for structural engineering professionals.
This innovative environmental history of the long-lived European chestnut tree and its woods offers valuable perspectives on the human transition from the Roman to the medieval world in Italy. Integrating evidence from botanical and literary sources, individual charters and case studies of specific communities, the book traces fluctuations in the size and location of Italian chestnut woods to expose how early medieval societies changed their land use between the fourth and eleventh centuries, and in the process changed themselves. As the chestnut tree gained popularity in late antiquity and became a valuable commodity by the end of the first millennium, this study brings to life the economic and cultural transition from a Roman Italy of cities, agricultural surpluses and markets to a medieval Italy of villages and subsistence farming.
The Mediterranean region has faced a significant number of challenges that have stemmed from turbulent events taking place on its Southern shores: conflicts and instability, the migration crisis, disruptions of regional value chains, souring regional relations, and foreign power interferences that have severely affected the region. The Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the Southern Mediterranean, but the health crisis had ambiguous effects on the underlying economic, social, and political trends of the region. It has exposed and exacerbated much of the previous sources of tension and, obscured many of them as public attention moved towards facing the public health emergency. Will the Covid-19 pandemic spur governments and civil societies to action? Or will it just serve as another smokescreen behind which to hide the region’s longstanding problems?
In the West, innovations in new public management (NPM) have been regarded as part of the neoliberal project, whilst in China, these reforms have emerged from a very different economic and social landscape. Despite these differences however, similar measures to those introduced in the West have been adopted by the Chinese state, which has largely abandoned the planned economy and adopted market mechanisms in the pursuit of improved economic efficiency and growth. Evaluating the results of these reforms in both China and the West between 1978 and 2011, this book shows that despite substantial improvements in economic efficiency in both cases under consideration, there have been considerable negative impacts on the distribution of wealth, access to public services, levels of poverty, public health, and the incidence of crime. Further, this book explores the different results of NPM in China and the West and the conclusions Paolo Urio draws have timely significance, as he suggests that China has been able to change its policies more rapidly and thus more effectively respond to the challenges posed by the current economic crisis. Drawing on both Western and Chinese sources, this innovative book compares the consequences of their public management reforms, taking into account the impact on both the economy and society. As such, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars working in the fields of Chinese studies, Asian studies, business, economics, strategic public management and comparative studies in capitalism and socialism.
Most people outside Italy know Pier Paolo Pasolini for his films, many of which began as literary works—Arabian Nights, The Gospel According to Matthew, The Decameron, and The Canterbury Tales among them. What most people are not aware of is that he was primarily a poet, publishing nineteen books of poems during his lifetime, as well as a visual artist, novelist, playwright, and journalist. Half a dozen of these books have been excerpted and published in English over the years, but even if one were to read all of those, the wide range of poetic styles and subjects that occupied Pasolini during his lifetime would still elude the English-language reader. For the first time, Anglophones will now be able to discover the many facets of this singular poet. Avoiding the tactics of the slim, idiosyncratic, and aesthetically or politically motivated volumes currently available in English, Stephen Sartarelli has chosen poems from every period of Pasolini’s poetic oeuvre. In doing so, he gives English-language readers a more complete picture of the poet, whose verse ranged from short lyrics to longer poems and extended sequences, and whose themes ran not only to the moral, spiritual, and social spheres but also to the aesthetic and sexual, for which he is most known in the United States today. This volume shows how central poetry was to Pasolini, no matter what else he was doing in his creative life, and how poetry informed all of his work from the visual arts to his political essays to his films. Pier Paolo Pasolini was “a poet of the cinema,” as James Ivory says in the book’s foreword, who “left a trove of words on paper that can live on as the fast-deteriorating images he created on celluloid cannot.” This generous selection of poems will be welcomed by poetry lovers and film buffs alike and will be an event in American letters.
In Publishing for the Popes, Paolo Sachet provides a detailed account of the attempts made by the Roman Curia to exploit printing in the mid-sixteenth century, after the Reformation but before the implementation of the ecclesiastical censorship.
This book provides an innovative analysis and interpretation of the overall trajectory of the Western European radical left from 1989 to 2015. After the collapse of really existing communism, this party family renewed itself and embarked on a recovery path, seeking to fill the vacuum of representation of disaffected working-class and welfarist constituencies created by the progressive neoliberalisation of European societies. The radical left thus emerged as a significant factor of contemporary political life but, despite some electoral gains and a few recent breakthroughs (SYRIZA in Greece, PODEMOS in Spain), it altogether failed to embody a credible alternative to neoliberalism and to pave the way for a turn to a different developmental model. This book investigates why this was the case, combining aggregate (17 countries), case study (Germany, Italy, and France), and comparative methods. It accurately charts the evolution of the nature, strength, cohesion, and influence of the Western European radical left, offering new insights in explaining its behaviour, success, and limits. It is essential reading for scholars, students, and activists interested in the radical left and in contemporary European politics.
The goal we have set ourselves with this series of four volumes, written in four hands, is to give an overall picture of the Divisions formed by the Army of the R.S.I. to the departments used in the fight against the partisans by the Republican National Army, starting from the last months of 1943, offering a purely military point of view, free from judgments of any kind. The purpose of "continuing the war" had always been present since the beginning of autumn 1943 in the military authorities of the Social Republic. During talks between three Mussolini and Hitler it was agreed to form a new fascist army, which, in the intentions of the Fuhrer, was to be made up of an army of 10/15 divisions. In reality, only 4 were planned and formed by the Republican National Army: 1st Bersaglieri Division "Italy", 2nd Grenadiers Division "Littorio", 3rd Marine Division "San Marco", 4th Alpine Division "Monterosa". This first volume is dedicated to the Division “Italy”, which operated on the southern front in Garfagnana, against the Allies, until the end of the conflict.
This book pushes literary theory into unexplored grounds to articulate the modern and contemporary condition of interstitiality through an innovative discussion of literary and philosophical underpinnings and interpretation of works by Calvino, Caproni, Sereni and Svevo. It will appeal to Italianists and anyone studying Italian literature.
The Italian film-maker Pier Paolo Pasolini was first and always a poet-the most important civil poet, according to Alberto Moravia, in Italy in the second half of this century. His poems were at once deeply personal and passionately engaged in the political turmoil of his country. In 1949, after his homosexuality led the Italian Communist Party to expel him on charges of "moral and political unworthiness," Pasolini fled to Rome. This selection of poems from his early impoverished days on the outskirts of Rome to his last (with a backward longing glance at his native Frill) is at the center of his poetic and filmic vision of modern Italian life as an Inferno. Pier Paolo Pasolini was born in 1922 in Bologna. In addition to the films for which he is world famous, he wrote novels, poetry, and social and cultural criticism. He was murdered in 1975.
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