Abstract

A recently published book reports the results of a 1990 study on “values” in EC countries. Of particular interest is the comparison of the Italian and the European data. Among all Europeans (with the possible exception of the Irish), Italians rate as the most conservative and least “modern” on many issues: the importance of family and religion; belief in God; the value of marriage; the role of women; abortion, etc. Italy is even more traditional than Greece or Spain and Portugal. It may seem paradoxical that such a country could have lived through the recent upheaval which brought down its First Republic.