Uwarunkowania społeczno-polityczne i gospodarcze zjawiska korupcji we Włoszech doby afery "Tangentopoli"
Socio-political and economic conditions of corruption in Italy in the era of the 'Tangentopoli' scandal

Summary/Abstract: This study examines the socio-political and economic determinants of systemic corruption in Italy during the 'Tangentopoli' scandal. Corruption, an intrinsic component of the state structures of that era, functioned as an informal mechanism facilitating access to public resources, deeply embedded in social norms and political practices. Employing an interdisciplinary approach that integrates historical, comparative, and systemic methodologies, the analysis highlights the complexity of the phenomenon, stemming from institutional dysfunction, low levels of public trust, and widespread acceptance of unethical behaviour. Key factors contributing to corruption included the absence of effective power alternation, the inefficiency of legal sanctions, complicity within the judiciary, and politico-economic linkages, including the influence of mafia structures. Italy’s political culture, marked by citizen alienation and particularism, exacerbated corrupt practices, which also had a class-based character. This phenomenon destabilised the democratic system, precipitating significant transformations in Italy’s political landscape.

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