ABSTRACT
In this chapter we attempt to give an account of the influence of Italian social sciences on the European sociological debate. This is not an easy task while it is one that can be addressed from many different angles. A complete review of all the scholars and/or single contributions that have achieved international recognition was beyond our reach, as was also any systematic analysis of all the branches of sociology. We therefore decided to focus on those fields of research in which Italian sociological research has not only made important contributions but also helped to frame the European debate, giving rise to a recognizable Italian approach. These fields are first local development, social capital, and governance and, second, welfare state, poverty, and inequality.
