Italy

Italy is one of the strongest European countries, one of the biggest economic powers in the cyberpunk world.

Overview
Italy is a country that has been hampered in its recent history by a great problem, the existence in the southern region, of popular criminal organisations: the Neapolitan Camorra and the Sicilian Mafia. These traditional organizations have recently made a quantitative leap forward. In an attempt to achieve local control of the federal government they have been constituted as political parties. Even though most of their businesses have been legalized (after all, the government decides what is legal or not), access to political power enables them to perform a higher level of a corrupt deal. The fact that Mafia-controlled areas seem better off than other parts of the south (sold to the corporate wolves) has strengthened and expanded their hold.

In a movement that everybody expected for years, Italy is now a federated republic, with a president, a prime minister (the real power) and a democratic parliament The main difference is the division into four states, each fairly autonomous in its interior politics.

North Italy
Which Includes Lombardy, Veneto, Genua, Piemonte, Ernilia-Romagna, and Tuscany. The richest state in all of Italy Capital: Milan. Ruled by: A Corporate Coalition that also controls the National Congress

Central Italy
Formed by Rome, Lazio, Marche, and Umbria. Capital: Rome. Ruled by: The National Congress.

South Mia
Formed by Naples, Apulia, and Basilicata. Capital: Naples. Ruled by: The Camorra, but with many corporate exclusion zones that haven't been fully subsumed.

The Insular Region
Formed by Calabria, Sicily, and Sardinia. Capital: Palermo. Ruled by: The Mafia.

Italy Territory Details
The Northern State of Italy is the richest and most industrialized part of it, gunning for their rightful place in "Euroheaven". They embrace many of "the German ideals" of what industry and society should look like. The Corporate Coalition is the real political power and authority of the country holding sway over The National Congress and The Northern State, it is lead by Biotechnica and Montedison the foremost Italian corporations. Their rule is often characterized by keeping the big actors within Italy "satiated", they're the reason The Mafia and their lazy Neapolitan cousins are still rich. Milan is one of the richest, most expensive, and most secure cities in the world to live in but due to the insurrectionist threat down South and the increased police presence, many residents feel as if the pontific intellectual culture the cities known for is being suffocated.

Their neighbor's in, The Central State of Italy acts more as an extension of The Northern State, but a lot less pontifical and more moderate in their perspective of the south, probably due to their long history of contact with them. The Central State of Italy is also where Rome, a little world in and of itself, and the capital of the Republica is located. The government is typically a puppet of The Norths Corporate Coalition, but a strong display of public agitation by the Romans can change almost any political decision that is made. The Southern States of South Mia and The Insular Region have it the worst, it has the highest unemployment rate within the country let alone the EEC. And as expected organized crime here is a well-developed enterprise with many crime syndicates acting as the de-facto leaders of their cities. Despite the government's routine crackdowns, the insurrection has continued its ascent, as the flames of resentment and betrayal grow stronger and more fervent amongst the people. The Masses, The Camorra, and The Mafia feel as if it's high time to teach the State and National Governments a lesson about selling itself and it's people out to the corporations. Culminating in the coalescence of the popular resistance movements and criminal enterprises now known as The Nuovu Mutia which is secretly sponsored by the Mafia and 'the Camorra. 'Just as long as their targets are corporations and the government. What can I say the enemy of my enemy is my friend. As a result, there are more deaths during a bad weekend in Naples than in the London combat zone and the violence is spreading throughout the rest of Italy. A corporation headquartered within this area would do well to move house... expeditiously!

Geography
Italy is located in southern Europe and comprises the long, boot-shaped Italian Peninsula, the southern side of Alps, the large plain of the Po Valley and some islands including Sicily and Sardinia. Corsica, although belonging to the Italian geographical region, has been a part of France since 1769.

Milan
The capital of Lombardy, now controller of the North state. Although overshadowed by Rome the new king's corporate movers and shakers are here. It is the economic center the administrator of banks, trade, and industry for the whole of the country. Unlike most Italian cities it is a secure place.

Terrorists have learned the risks of preparing a strike here. This blanket of security hampers most corporate-deniable work as well. Netwatch and Interpol have a high presence here. The visitor will bore herself to death if she has not come here to wheel and deal in the corridors of power

Naples
South state capital, it is the most dangerous city in Italy, and possibly in continental Europe. Robberies and assaults are commonplace, and caution is recommended. Don't forget that the main income of the Nuovu Mafia is kidnapping. The Camorru government is trying to secure the streets but has only managed to turn them into a battlefield.

Since 2019, there has been a curfew from 22:OO to 5:00, but nobody respects it After losing the fishing income, sea trade is the main industry of the city. You can get a ship willing to go anywhere and to do almost anything if you have enough money. Europa Sur has a strong presence in the docks, but their relationship with the Camorra is strained, and violence may flare.

Palermo
The summit of the Italian Mafia, the city is quiet no illegal actions are allowed unless government-sanctioned, and then they are not illegal. Foreigners will be distrusted, not spoken to, and probably harassed by young toughs.

Venice and Florence
All the monumental Italian cities are kept just-so by huge subsidies form the EC and the work of Wortrac Consortium, con- trolling almost all tourism in continental Italy.

Rome
Capital of the Central State and of all Italy. A professional work now in decadence, The Eternal Civ is everything a city can be. All roads go to Rome but Rome is not what it was. Nevertheless, tourism is one of its main sources of income and all visitors will be awed by monuments of the past, history weighs heavily here.

However, Romans seem immune to it If Italians are extroverted and open people Romans are too but squared. You will meet hospitable and friendly persons wherever you go. And while it is easy to meet new people it is still hard to form great long-lasting friendships. It is usual to be approached by a stranger that stops and begins to tell you about his or her life, speaking so fast that it is doubtful this person even speaks Italian.

In the rest of Italy, general respect for the rules of the road is common but in Rome, it is ignored if not completely circumvented! It is normal to see cars taking a roundabout both ways at the same time. Taking a taxi is not recommended for the faint of heart, but it is one of the only ways besides walking to get to where you want to go. Rome is nevertheless weathering well the threat to its supremacy presented by Milan, and it is still the most important city in Italy. Combining the rigid and laborious people of the North and the relaxed attitude of the South, it's a very fun place to be.

In the center of the city are the Vatican State the focal point for Catholicism and the site of the Pope's temporal power. Catholics from all around the world congregate here to see the heir of St Peter. Besides the greatest concentration of religious art in the world, there are many other treasures, as well. But don't be deceived by the apparent lack of security. Besides the fellows With the halberds, the Swiss Guard is one of the best-prepared military forces in the world.

Reference
RAMOS, J. Eurosource Plus. 1st ed. Berkeley CA: R. Talsorian Games, 1995 Italia