These weaknesses fed on each other and were decried at conferences and publicly condemned. Given that they were also deeply rooted in the country and its history, at least its recent history, a solution appeared remote. If you get a raging temperature when already under the weather, you run a serious risk, as Italy did in these years.
The country is only now coming round and while not yet decisive, the signs are encouraging. What happened outside our borders in recent years – worldwide efforts to draw up new regulations for finance, banking union in Europe and its first faltering steps – will be analysed by future historians.