The Italian Legal Order and the Making of a National Cultural Identity

The chapter explores the variety of regulatory techniques and processes through which Italian law has tried to shape Italian cultural identity. Although the chapter aims to provide an account of the evolution of such techniques and processes, the historical perspective is also used to understand the current situation and to reflect on possible future developments. The underlying thesis of this research is that the shaping of Italian cultural identity over the last 50 years encapsulates a dialectic between unity and pluralism. Within such overall framework, the investigation discusses the political and administrative measures adopted in three different groups according to sector: (1) art, cultural heritage, and media; (2) education; and (3) language. Study of these sectors shows that the Italian legal order has not always been successful in guiding cultural processes. More often than not it has been content to support them or to attempt to contain them, leaving it to developments in society to limit the scope of regulation and not the reverse