The Dynamics of Big Business

2    Italy

Toward a Democratization of Big Business?

2.1 “HOW TO LOSE THE WAR AND WIN THE PEACE” (1939–1950)

On the eve of World War II, Italy had already found its way to industrialization. In addition, despite the defeat suffered in World War I, the efforts made to participate in the military conflict favored further developments in the postwar period, as the challenging book edited by Vera Zamagni Come Perdere la Guerra e Vincere la Pace (How to Lose the War and Win the Peace; 1997) suggests. The obstacles to this process were many, as are the number of interpretations of the causes, features, size, and timing of the “big spurt” in Italy (e.g., Sereni 1947; Romeo 1959; Gerschenkron 1962; Caracciolo 1969; Bonelli 1978; Luzzatto 1980; Cafagna ...