"LOVE CANNOT BE FORCED" OR HOW COERCIVE ISOMORPHISM PROVOKES DIVER-GENCE: THE CASE OF THE ITALIAN REGIONAL SYSTEM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17072/2218-1067-2024-3-126-136Keywords:
regions; institutional reforms, institutional asymmetry; divergence; convergence; political and territorial heterogeneity; institutional isomorphism; ItalyAbstract
The Italian regional system is characterized by great institutional asymmetry and diversity. Moreover, there is evidence that this diversity is only increasing. Initially, there were only two modes of institutional status - five "special" regions and fifteen "ordinary" regions. But each special region eventually acquired its own specific system of powers through bilateral negotiations with the central government. Likewise, there has been a divergence among the ordinary regions, both in terms of internal dynamics and in their relations with Rome in their pursuit of additional powers. At the same time, throughout the entire existence of this institutional system, there have been strong isomorphic trends. This is true for central authorities that tried to reduce institutional asymmetry (constitutional reform of 2001, and a failed reform of 2016, etc.) as well as for regions and other actors that tried to mimic/borrow successful institutional forms for their own development. As a result, asymmetry and institutional diversity as one of the main features of Italian regionalism may be explained by the fact that the mechanisms that promote isomorphic change may also support divergence processes.References
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