ABSTRACT
As far as the European Parliament is concerned, Calabria is part of the constituency which includes the whole of the mainland south. The constituency as a whole returns nineteen deputies to Strasbourg, a proportion of whom are Calabrians. Each party therefore prepares a list of candidates who are elected on a proportional basis. The list is the same throughout the constituency which in the case of Calabria coincides with the region. In Calabria the lack of trust affects all types of social interaction except those based on links which can be exploited to mutual advantage. It follows that political interaction is governed to an even greater extent by the principle of mutual advantage. As a result other facets of Calabrian life have become superimposed on the parties. Family loyalty in politics is very striking. Professional continuity or mutual aid within a family is not unique to Calabria or indeed Italy.
