Special Presentation: Present Day Italy

Financial crisis, falling population, third world immigration, these are some of the issues that Professor Louis Leonini will address in his lecture. How did Italy go from a war-torn, poverty stricken country in 1945, which was primarily agricultural, to a modern success story in the 1960s through the 1980s? What was the role of the political parties, the agrarian reforms of the 1950s, and l960s, the declining influence of the Catholic Church, the changing role of the Italian family, the Red Brigades, and political corruption in this transformation?  The same period witnessed the world-wide spread of Italian culture through its fashion industry, now ranked above Paris, its cuisine, its famous “dolce vita lifestyle”, its  films, and  its attraction as one of the most visited countries in the world.

Must register in advance and prepay.

Members $15, Non-Members $25