In addition,by abolishing internal tariffs and establishing a single Italian market harmed what little industry existed in the south as it could not compete with the more advanced north.Furthermore, it was not only the economy which contributed to the north south divide but also cultural differences. Dialect variations created great barriers. The northern dialects bore some resemblance to Italian whereas the southern dialects for example from Sicily were completed different. For example the Italian word for Thursday is Giovedi and the Lombardy variation is “Giuedi” however the Sicilian word is “loviri”. This great regional disparity completely undermined the fundamental aim of the Liberals, to unite Italy. Constitutionally, Italy may have been recognised as a new and unified state but in reality it was a divided nation. In addition, these regional differences diminished the political efficiency of a united Italy.
A further factor which contributed to the weakness of the Liberal state was as a result of inherent weaknesses in the Liberal system and Italian parliamentary government. Italian politics was the preserve of a minority; the educated middle class man. A major weakness of the Liberal government was the fact that they were not prepared to work with ordinary Italians until they were “made” in the Liberal image. They were a minority government wary and opposed to the population at large. A further reason for the unsuitability of the Liberal state was that a gulf existed between legal Italy and real Italy. The majority knew little of what went on beyond their villages. The limited suffrage meant most Italians were uninvolved in the new state apart from paying taxes and being conscripted to the army. Even in 1900 the high property qualification required before men could vote meant that only one man in fifteen had the vote thus hindering loyalty.
An additional reason for the weaknesses of the Liberal state was that Liberal policies failed on the whole to solve Italy’s pressing economic problems. A programme of government investment and public works might have eased poverty particularly in the south but the liberal philosophy was opposed to such government interference in the economy. Liberal laissez-faire ideas condemned high taxation and demanded prudent financial management. However, Italian politics was rarely about principles or programmes. The most skilled politicians were skilled at maintaining political alliances. Politicians were seen as being corrupt as a consequence of the frequent changes of government. Also the central government employed prefects who virtually ran the provinces and made sure that government supported candidates won elections. Bribery and inefficiency were widespread in the administration. Transformismo system did little to solve Italy’s pressing social and economic problems. By 1914 Italy still faced the problems of illiteracy, sanitary squalor, excessive rates of emigration, regional differences and the economic backwardness of many of the rural areas government.
The failure of the Liberal government to appeal to and involve the masses as a result of its oligarchic system of government created a climate primed for political opposition. The Catholic Church was perhaps the regime’s most vehement opponent. Internal cohesion was hampered by the refusal of the Catholic Church to recognise the new state and its forbidding Catholics to take part in any part of Italian political life. The Catholic Church’s stance was particularly serious for the state as the vast majority of Italians were practising Catholics.
In 1912 the electorate was extended to all men over the age of thirty which further endangered the already fragile position of the Liberal government as it was unable to appeal to a mass electorate as a result of is narrow class base. The extension of the franchise led to the emergence of nationalist politics and even greater opposition for the Liberal government. The emergence of these new political groups all appealing in different ways to a new mass electorate meant that the liberal system of coalition politics based on narrow class interests and revolving around a few well know individuals became very difficult to sustain.
Therefore, to conclude it is clear that the north south divide clearly played a major role in the instability of the Liberal state as it did not allow for Italy to progress as a united country, so hampered economic progression. However, the north south divide although important does not appear to be the main reason for the weaknesses of the Liberal State. The weaknesses of the Liberal state was due to a culmination of factors such as opposition groups and the emergence of nationalist politics with the main reason being inherent weaknesses in Italian parliamentary government. The weakness of the Liberal state was due to fundamental flaws within the Liberal system of government. Liberal politicians represented a narrow educated elite and their quarelling led to frequent changes in governement. A government unprepared to accept change and work with the people, for the good of the people was unlikely to succeed.
