First published in 1981, this book contains a series of sociological essays translated from Italian into English. It shows how Italian sociology offers a highly original blend of economic and sociological analyses in addressing Italy's main social problems and how its themes and methods could profitably be integrated into other sociological traditions. The anthology uses Italy as an illustration in examining social and sociological themes of crucial concern to the international social scientific community. In a substantial introduction Diana Pinto argues that Italy can be seen as a 'metaphor' for wider international debates about development and modernisation.