The writer is founding director of the University of Surrey’s Institute for Sustainability and former Italian minister of state for education
Arriving in the UK from Italy, where I was until recently a member of parliament and a minister, I have been confronted with a level of political instability that reminded me all too well of my own country. Italy has seen 68 governments since the end of the second world war — roughly one new administration every year. Britons have been traditionally accustomed to more stable leadership, but the past few years indicate that something may be changing here too.
How can we ensure that governments deliver even with frequent shifts at the helm? Here are some lessons from Italy.
During my years in politics, first as a member of a centre-right government and then a centre-left one, I have learned that building bipartisan coalitions around shared policy goals is crucial to ensure continuity of action and implementation. In particular, I found…