Italian Normative Pluralism: What is Unique about the Future of Italy

There are in Italy, and only in Italy, major institutions endowed with substantial normative powers (both acknowledged by Santi Romano): Alternative normative institutions are consistent with a normatively weak state. On the other hand, the rich social landscape of the peninsula will most likely be simplified, and some institutional aristocracies will see their role diminished and almost erased. It therefore looks like new forms of normative pluralism are knocking at the door: from the normative spiral of overlapping communities that flourish in a multicultural society, to the European and international institutions that can and will impact the Italian law (and politics). Perhaps only a frank, realistic acknowledgement of such a pluralism can capture some specific features of Italian contemporary society.