- Paperback: 250 pages
- Publisher: The Headington Press (26 April 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0956546102
- ISBN-13: 978-0956546104
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 13.4 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 767,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
 Trade In this Item for up to £0.90
Get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade in Impunity - Berlusconi's Goal and Its Consequences for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £0.90, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Product details |
Product Description
Product Description
Is the winner of a democratic election entitled to preferential treatment in the law courts? Which should take priority: democracy or the rule of law? This is the first book in English since Silvio Berlusconi's return to power in 2008 to tell the often alarming, sometimes comical story of the man who is both Italy's prime minister and the owner of its dominant media empire. His popularity remains high as he seeks to reform the justice system, and even the Constitution, in order to secure his immunity in the face of allegations of corruption, tax fraud and abuse of office. Freedom and democracy are his rallying cries - yet he threatens to cut down the only trees capable of bearing such fruit: the rule of law and a plurality of independent information sources. Berlusconi promised a liberal economic revolution to revitalise Italy's economy. Yet from 2001 to the end of 2009, with Berlusconi in power for six of those eight years, Italy was the only major country in which average income fell - and in only three minor economies (Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast and Haiti) did it fall faster than in Italy over this period. IMPUNITY tells the story of his business empire with its impenetrable financial engineering; his bold diversification into politics; the allegations of Mafia connections; the legal battles and the laws his governments have enacted to try to protect him; the conflicts of interest; the sex scandals - and the underlying issue of democracy versus the rule of law.
About the Author
Charles Young spent part of his childhood in Rome. He has a bachelor's degrees in politics, philosophy and economics (Oxford) and a master's degree in economics (LSE). He worked as an economist for the Zambian government for four years before joining, and becoming a Senior Economic Adviser in, the UK Government Economic Service. He resigned to co-found LMC International, now the acknowledged source of global economic analysis of agricultural commodity markets. His work on the rubber and tyre industries led him later to found another company also successful, but now part of a larger grouping specialising in analysing and forecasting motor vehicle production and sales.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I knew a little about Berlusconi before I read this book. His flaws are legendary. But what this book does so well is to expose how Berlusconi's perceived weaknesses - his power-grabbing, headline-hungry, paranoid manipulation of the media and blatant disregard for the little man - are actually his strengths: gross disregard for separation of powers? Forza Silvio. Uncomfortably close to the wrong side of the law? Forza Silvio. Economic incompetence? Etc. In one elegant little chapter after another, Young uncovers how political gaffes, failures of government and judicial stitch-ups that, on their own, would be fatal to another man's career have actually made Berlusconi. A delicious, fact-packed read for that short break at you-know-who's in Tuscany this summer.
Format:Paperback
I thought British politicians were a pretty dismal lot. But then I read Charles Young's book and realised that at least we have something to be grateful for. This is a brilliantly argued exposé of the Italian Prime Minister, full of facts, clearly carefully researched, and absolutely damning. Most of us knew something about the sex scandals and the press monopoly. I don't think many of us knew just how disastrous Berlusconi's handling of the Italian economy has been. Here Charles Young's background as an economist shows through: he assembles the facts and presents them so clearly that one can only wonder how the Italian people have not thrown the man out long ago. (Actually Young also explains just how Berlusconi has been able to hang onto power.) All in all, a concise but gripping read, a must for anyone interested in European politics, or indeed any politics.
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
