Abstract
This paper examines the rise of Berlusconi before and after his electoral victory in 1994. It looks at the circumstances which facilitated his rise to power and the reasons for his subsequent fall. It also briefly examines the corruption within the Italian government.

From the Paper
"Controlling 40 percent of the media gave Berlusconi a real head start over the opposition and he used this very effectively in his campaign. He may not be experienced in the field of politics but when it came to projecting a certain image and publicising himself, he was a pro. It was clear that Berlusconi was laying the foundation for a new style of politics, one which owed more to the American system, where the line is often blurred between politics and showbiz. He understood that those
more experienced in politics may see through the polished image he resented in the media, but his main aim was to sway the voting of the apathetic."

Tags:allianza, clean, corruption, forza, hands, investigation, italia, italian, leganord, media, nationale, rai

Abstract
This paper gives a brief history of Italian politics since 1945 and the setup of the government including a discussion of the power the President holds. It shows using Silvio Berlusconi, who served as President for a brief period of time in 1994, until he was usurped from power after charges of corruption, as an example, of how the Italian people feel about government corruption, how they are able to relay their concerns to the government and the impact the President has on the people.

From the Paper
"On June 10, 2001, Silvio Berlusconi was once again elected to power; this time he was elected as President. He did serve as President for a brief period of time in 1994, until he was usurped from power after charges of corruption; the very elements he had vowed to remove during his election speeches in 1993.(4) In 1997 and 1998, he was again convicted of financial crimes, but this time the charges were acquitted after an appeal on Berlusconi's behalf. After the acquittal, Berlusconi ran for President again, with promises of more jobs, better tax cuts, increased pensions, publicly-funded projects, as well as anti-corruption and anti-crime measures.(5)"

Tags:corruption, economics, politics, science, christian, democrats, parliament

Abstract
This paper is a country profile on Italy that reflects the current adversities that Italy faces. Afflictions outlined include illegal immigration, corruption, and elections. The paper explains the problems Italy has faced in the past, and the problems they face now. It also emphasizes the difficulty in repairing these problems.

From the Paper
"The Italian Republic, better known as Italy, became a nationwide state in 1861; they were united under King Victor Emmanuel. It originally had a parliamentary government; that came to an abrupt end in the early 1920s when the Fascist leader, Benito Mussolini, established a dictatorship. He formed an alliance with Nazi Germany that ultimately led to both Mussolini and Italy's defeat in World War II.(1) Italy's economy was finally revived in 1946 when a democratic republic replaced the monarchy. In 1999, Italy joined the European Monetary Union and now uses the "Euro Dollar" as their currency. This paper will show that Italy's most current affliction revolves around the influx of illegal immigration."

Tags:benito, mussolini, europe, lira, euro, sicily, silvio, berlusconi, government, rome