Abstract

This article examines the relationship between the Italian Regions and local government on the basis of the presumption that the governing of a community can only be effective if there is a rethinking of the organizational and functional models of local government. Indeed the author argues that, for a variety of reasons, these models are no longer capable of addressing complexity a quintessential factor of institutions today. As a consequence, the article argues that there is a need to enhance notions of integrated government of the territory which, at substate level in Italy, has the Regions as its natural pivot. The article goes on to examine the prospects and limits this concept encounters both in terms of statute and case law and that emerge in three areas: allocation of functions and organizational models; financial relations; bodies and procedures of coordination. The article ends by underlining that, despite some hurdles, the Italian Regions do have the opportunity of becoming the centre of gravity for the community through a relationship of loyal cooperation with the local authorities.