ABSTRACT
The case of abuses and law suspension of Genoa may offer an example of exception beyond its factual declaring, and demonstrates that exceptional instances are used by states also in the context of democratic life, and, potentially, against their own citizens whenever state institutions feel threatened. In modern juridical and political literature, the concept of the ‘state of exception’ has been used to designate an extra-ordinary measure applied by states in situations of perceived emergency or potential or actual crisis. The series of protests and demonstrations that accompanied the International G8 Summit held in Genoa in July 2001 was an emblematic case brought to the attention of public opinion, media and scholars. Nevertheless, the peculiarity of the circumstances witnessed in Genoa was a use of force beyond the limited situations of protests, which was manifested in moments exceeding regular policing tasks on the streets.
