ABSTRACT
This chapter is basically concerned with transport and power, two basic infrastructural pillars of modem industrial development. In most developed countries responsibility for these ‘foundation industries’ rests with government; Italy is no exception, although this has not always been the case, and even today certain elements remain in private hands. Particular stress should be laid on the fact that the construction of a complete network of roads, railways, shipping, airlines and telecommunications has been the means by which the fragile and fragmented Italian state has been consolidated. Transport networks were instrumental in both political and economic unification, although the latter was not pushed very hard, nor is it yet completely achieved today with parts of the Mezzogiomo remaining peripheral and isolated.
