Hollowing out and hardening the state: European integration and the Italian economy

Abstract This account uses the case of budgetary politics to argue that European integration and economic interdependence have contributed to the 'hollowing out' and hardening of the Italian state. It argues that there has been a displacement of national state authority to other levels of government and to parts of civil society. This requires state structures that are lesspermeable topenetration and demands from civilsociety. In turn, a 'hollowed out' state becomes a less likely target for societal interests as state authority is displaced. Italian budgetary politics, characterised recently by the quest to achieve the convergence criteria set out in the Treaty on European Union, illustrate both these processes; that is, state authority being displaced and decreasing access for societal demands.