ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the role played by the political and non-political actors in the debates. It deals with political parties, by assessing the positions of the different political areas in relation to the issues. Given the extreme fragmentation of the Italian party system, and the frequent changes in the parties' names and identities, it sets apart five different political areas: the left, the centre-left, the Catholic centre, the centre-right, and the extreme right. Berlusconi's charismatic leadership often managed to downplay the centre-right's relevant internal differences. The coalition was indeed marked by evident strategic shifts, with its main members to begin with, Berlusconi himself ready to adopt tough polarizing stances in some phases and to downplay the issues in others. Finally, the Church was able to play a role in the debates through the influence of the dense network of Catholic organizations active in Italian civil society.
