Towards a new era of regionalism in Italy? A comparative perspective on autonomy referendums

Abstract

Referendums on regional autonomy are rare events in European politics, but are likely to produce important political and institutional effects. This paper provides the first systematic account of the autonomy referendums held in October 2017 in Lombardy and Veneto (Italy), and seeks: (1) to explore the origins of autonomy referendums, placing them within a wider comparative framework of similar exercises across Western European countries; (2) to explain their political, economic, social and cultural roots; (3) to analyze the campaigns and the results, assessing variations across and within the two regions; and (4) to reflect on the political and institutional implications of the referendums, and to evaluate the extent to which they could lead to a new era of regionalism in Italy, characterized by further asymmetries and fragmentation at both political and institutional levels. Far from being an isolated case, Italy can provide useful insights into the new politics of regionalism and federalism in Western Europe. It is also suggested that a more nuanced approach to the study of regionalism should not only focus on regional–central relations but also account for tensions existing within regions (e.g., regional versus local levels and cities versus provinces).