Abstract

The essay critically reconstructs the history of regionalism in Italy, starting from the slow and controversial establishment of the Regions with ordinary statute, which was not accompanied by the necessary adaptation of State legislation. Even the Title V reform of 2001, although potentially very innovative (in particular, with reference to the contents of the new Article 118 of the Constitution) did not mark a discontinuity in the performance of regional institutions, also because it remained largely unimplemented. Not only that, but the less than perfect formulation of some provisions has favoured a constitutional jurisprudence that has progressively developed instruments to prevent the reform from creating an uncontrollable autonomist drift. On the outlook, the author believes that a model of cooperative regionalism should be pursued, which presupposes the adoption of national guidelines intended, then, to be implemented through regional and local regulatory acts as well.