The waning of the two giants: the electoral decline of the Italian Christian Democratic Party and the Italian Communist Party

Italy is currently experiencing profound political change. One aspect of this change involves the decline in electoral support for the Italian Christian Democratic Party (DC) and the Italian Communist Party (PCI), now the Democratic Party of the Left (PDS). Signs of the electoral decline of both parties began to appear in the late 1970s and early 1980s and accelerated in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The pr imar y purpos e of th is thes is is to expla i n the electoral decline of the DC and PCI/PDS in the last decade. The central question being addressed in this thesis is the following: What factors contributed to the decline in electoral support for the DC and PCI? In addition, the thesis attempts to better comprehend the change in magni tude and direction of the Italian party system. The thesis examines the central question within an analytical framework that consists of models explaining electoral change in advanced industrial democracies and in Italy. A review of the literature on electoral change in Italy reveals three basic models: structural (socioeconomic and demographic factors), subcultural (the decline of the Catholic and Communist subcultures), and pol i tical (factors such as party strategy, and the crisis and collapse of communism in iv Eastern Europe and the former soviet Union and the end to the Cold War). Significant structural changes have occurred in Italy, but they do not invariably hurt or benefit either party. The Catholic and Communist subcultures have declined in size and strength, but only gradually. More importantly, the study discovers that the decline of communism and party strategy adversely affected the electoral performances of the DC and PC!. The basic conclusion is that political factors primarily and directly contributed to the decline in electoral support for both parties, while societal factors (structural and subcultural changes) played a secondary and indirect role. While societal factors do not contribute directly to the decline in electoral support for both parties, they do provide the context within which both parties operated. In addition, the Italian party system is becoming more fragmented and traditional political parties are losing electoral support to new political movements, such as the Lega Nord (LN-Northern League) and the Rete (Network). The growing importance of the North-South and centre-periphery cleavages suggests that the Italian party system, which is traditionally based on religious and ideological cleavages, may be changing.

Proceedings : Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario - 1855 & 1856

These are the annual proceedings of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario covering a single year of activity. The entire collection of proceedings cover the years 1855 to 2010. Future proceedings will be added to the website. Freemasonry is the oldest and largest worldwide fraternity dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of a Supreme Being. In Ontario, the governing body is called the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Canada in the Province of Ontario. It is under the leadership of the Grand Master. He presides over the 53,000 Masons who belong to one or more of the 571 lodges in his jurisdiction.

Papers and Practical Illustrations of Public Works of Recent Construction, both British and American (1856)

Memoirs of the late Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Bentham, with an account of his inventions -- The Paddock Viaduct / by John Hawkshaw -- Lockwood Viaduct / by John Hawkshaw -- Denby Dale Viaduct / by John Hawkshaw -- Tithebarn Street Viaduct, Liverpool / by John Hawkshaw -- Newark Dyke Bridge on the Great Northern Railway / by Joseph Cubitt -- Mountain top track in the state of Virginia / by Charles Ellet -- Preliminaries to good building / by Edward Lacy Garbett / Suggestions for increasing the circulating medium in aid of commerce and mechanical enterprise

Funeral Invitation - February 5, 1856

An invitation to the funeral of Mrs. John W. Ball. The invitation reads: Niagara, February 5th, 1856. Sir--- You are requested to attend the Funeral of the late Mrs. John W. Ball, from the Residence of her husband to the Place of Internment, on Thursday the 7th Instant, at the hour of Two O'Clock in the afternoon.

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for the months of March, April and May, 1856

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for services of engineering and contingencies furnished for the months of March, April and May, 1856.

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for the months of March, April and May, 1856, signed by S.D. Woodruff, June 3, 1856

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for services of engineering and contingencies furnished for the months of March, April and May, 1856, signed by S.D. Woodruff, June 3, 1856.

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for the months of June, July and August, 1856, signed by S.D. Woodruff, Sept. 2, 1856

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for services of engineering and contingencies furnished for the months of June, July and August, 1856, signed by S.D. Woodruff, Sept. 2, 1856.

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll during Nov. 1856. This is signed by S.D. Woodruff, Dec. 9, 1856

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for extension of the service during Nov. 1856. This is signed by S.D. Woodruff, Dec. 9, 1856.

Voucher #2 from the Engineer Department of Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railway Extension paid to Daniel Plumsteel, Dec. 31, 1856

Voucher #2 from the Engineer Department of Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railway Extension for surveys, paid to Daniel Plumsteel, Dec. 31, 1856.

Voucher #3 from the Engineer Department of Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railway Extension paid to Thomas Woods, Dec. 31, 1856

Voucher #3 from the Engineer Department of Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railway Extension for sinking test pits, paid to Thomas Woods, Dec. 31, 1856.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff regarding a resolution passed on May 17, 1856 by the Board of Directors of the Port Robinson and Thorold Macadamized Road Committee

Letter to S.D. Woodruff regarding a resolution passed on May 17, 1856 by the Board of Directors of the Port Robinson and Thorold Macadamized Road Committee This is signed by Duncan McFarland, president, May 27, 1856.

Chart of estimate #6 of work done from the end of February to April, 1856

Chart of estimate #6 of work done from the end of February to April, 1856. This is signed by Fred Holmes, April, 1856.

Chart of estimate #7 of work done by John Williams during the month of May. This is signed by Fred Holmes, May 29, 1856

Chart of estimate #7 of work done by John Williams during the month of May. This is signed by Fred Holmes, May 29, 1856.