This study, first published in 1981, focuses on a single region of Italy - Tuscany, and examines the internal and external relationships of the parties, their evolution and their roles in the years 1975-1980. This volume has a particular importance due to the questioning of many previously held assumptions of the country's party system in the light of political and socio-economic change during the 1970's. This title will be of interest to students of European politics.

List of Abbreviations; Preface; 1. The Nature of the Italian Party System 2. The Region of Tuscany: The Case-study Presented 3. The Tuscan Communists: The Party of Integration on the Left 4. The Tuscan Christian Democrats: The Party of Catholic-Conservative Mobilisation 5. Inter-party Relationships and the Politics of Convergence: The Tuscan Experience; Conclusion: Change and Continuity in the Italian Party System; Notes of Sources; Published Sources and Bibliography; Index