Presidente, Duce, Segretario, Cavaliere - ewolucja modelu przywództwa politycznego we współczesnych Włoszech

The author discusses the changing nature of political leadership in united Italy, making reference to the four political systems: liberal Italy (1861-1922), Fascist Italy (1922-1945), The First Republic (1946-1994), The Second Republic (from 1994). He analyzes the practices of transformism under Depretis, Crispi and Giolitti, as well as Mussolini's image as the nation's hero. Furthermore the author describes the gradual decline of Christian Democrats' leaders from De Gasperi to Andreotti and the original approach adopted by Berlusconi. The cases are studied in order of their contribution to the present condition of Italian political leadership with respect to such criteria as the leaders' background, age, motivations and values, and their pragmaticism/idealism. Mosca's ruling class theory is applied throughout as to demonstrate specific Italian inspirations and meanings.