Italy Election Maps

[Iannis]

Still hoping for an explanation on Lucca, which really stands out on the 1948 map.

My personal opinion. Lucca's importance declined after XV century, and was shadowed by Florence, or Livorno importance. It was not a merchants or handicrafts' center like the other cities. No rich bankers. Probably the only important element remained the church, and a petty bourgeoise, add the rural environment and you have a conservative approach. Maybe.

[Iannis]

Still hoping for an explanation on Lucca, which really stands out on the 1948 map.

My personal opinion. Lucca's importance declined after XV century, and was shadowed by Florence, or Livorno importance. It was not a merchants or handicrafts' center like the other cities. No rich bankers. Probably the only important element remained the church, and a petty bourgeoise, add the rural environment and you have a conservative approach. Maybe.

Rural Tuscany was not conservative.

In some part it was

[Iannis]

I'm not too familiar with Italian politics before the 1980s. Could someone explain the US, BN and PNM?

The US was basically what later became the PSDI, and was a right-wing splinter of the Socialists opposed to the FDP coalition. It went on to become a corrupt machine party allied with the DC. 

The BN was a one-election between two southern based parties, the 'Poujadist' (before its time) Uomo Qualunque Front and the Liberal Party. The Liberals were a corrupt right-wing party, and the party of the old southern elite. Later on, its vote shifted towards the north and weakened in the south (the opposite of what happened to the PSI).

The PNM were monarchists.

PLI and PSDI were representing clear positions, social democrats opposite to USSR allied communists (they had scandinavian social democrat as ispiration) and classical liberalism. No corruption at all till 80s.

[Iannis]

Any idea what's up with Trappani at the western end of Sicily? Only province to vote for the republic, and one of the DC's weakest on the island.

I was looking at different villages' results.

I think that much depends on the workers organization strenght and local personalities especialli for PRI and PLI. PCI is strong in big town with strong presence of fishermen and agricultural workers. But in south Italy any equilibrium usually changes very fast.

[Iannis]

A question to the Italian posters here. Are there any maps of the single member constituencies used in the 1994, 1996 and 2001 elections anywhere? Were any ever published/printed?

there's not, I fear. In Italy there's not this electoral maps culture :-( There was a  site, akab.it, but expired.

[Iannis]

I kind of like the PSI/PSDI maps. More ordinary southern folk who thought the north and the media had their knickers in a twist.

I enjoyed making them; actually had to adjust the keys when I saw that the PSI managed 8% in Basilicata and the PSDI 4% in Molise (which is... um... actually an increase on 1992). After laughing, of course.

In South almost everything depends on local candidates. Especially in 1994 when big parties failed, and the bew ones like Forza Italia had not the time to deepen thei roots everywhere, so in more rural places only local personalities counted.
 now there's a proportional system, not costituencies. so party's leader basically are candidate everywhere at the first or second place and then they choose depending on the people they want to favour in the regions.

[Iannis]

Either way, an extraordinary result that led to the unusual political arrangements of the late 1970s in which the PCI actually propped up DC governments.

You can't say these things and then not elaborate, although I think I might have an inkling as to what you're talking about.

To avoid tensions DC and PCI for three years cooperated in the government, through communist abstensions in Parliament.
It's incohomprensible for a foreigner, and a little also for me.

[Iannis]

It was part of Berlinguer's attempt to move the PCI out of the political ghetto; the so-called 'Historic Compromise'. It made a degree of sense, but it was based on a misinterpretation of the nature and structures of the DC regime (regrettably).

Ghetto is the natural place for a communist party. Unfotunately in Italy, unique case in europe, communist were the main opposizion to christian democats, not socialdemocratic. Take care in definitions, like "regime", being DC democratically elected as any othe party in Europe.

[Iannis]

It was part of Berlinguer's attempt to move the PCI out of the political ghetto; the so-called 'Historic Compromise'. It made a degree of sense, but it was based on a misinterpretation of the nature and structures of the DC regime (regrettably).

Ghetto is the natural place for a communist party. Unfotunately in Italy, unique case in europe, communist were the main opposizion to christian democats, not socialdemocratic. Take care in definitions, like "regime", being DC democratically elected as any othe party in Europe.

It was worth it. Look at the Italian Left now. 

Look what? They changed now, but just because they HAD to change. they couldn't remain even behind Russia and Eastern Europe trend