Matteo Jessoula, Marcello Natili, «Welfare all’italiana» addio?, in “Politiche Sociali, Social Policies” 3/2024, pp. 441-459, doi: 10.7389/116165

This special issue, Farewell to the Italian Welfare State? Change and Resistance Between Social
Investment and Protection, investigates whether the evolution of the Italian welfare state
from 2014 to 2024 has effectively addressed the enduring social crisis triggered by the
Great Recession. It examines whether traditionally underdeveloped policy sectors – such as
family policy, long-term care, active labor market policies, and anti-poverty measures – have
achieved meaningful progress. The contributions reveal signs of a gradual shift towards a
more balanced welfare configuration, particularly in addressing long-standing functional
and distributive distortions. However, significant challenges persist, especially in advancing
investment in service provision. This introductory article reflects on the key changes
in Italy’s welfare architecture over the past decade and examines the factors that have
either facilitated or hindered policy change in these «forgotten» sectors, offering a critical
reflection on the conditions that enable or hinder reform efforts.