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About Geoff Andrews

Geoff Andrews is staff tutor in politics at the Open University. He is the author of Not a Normal Country: Italy After Berlusconi (Pluto, 2005), published in Italian as Un Paese Anormale (Effepi Libri, 2007); and of The Slow Food Story: Politics and Pleasure (Pluto Press / McGill-Queen's, 2008). Geoff Andrews is an associate editor of Soundings. His website is here

Articles by Geoff Andrews

Wednesday 14th December

Silvio Berlusconi's legacy

Geoff Andrews, 14 December 2011

It is a month since Italy's long-term prime minister resigned. But his pervasive influence on Italy's public life and the infirmity of the country's political class mean that it is too early to call this the post-Berlusconi era, says Geoff Andrews.

Monday 5th September

August 1990: a very British coup

Geoff Andrews, 5 September 2011

The slow implosion of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s was echoed in the internal divisions and crises that consumed its western associates. Indeed, the once influential Communist Party of Great Britain faced its own trauma exactly a year before the attempted coup against Mikhail Gorbachev. Geoff Andrews recalls the moment when new-times became end-times.

Monday 20th June

Italy beyond Berlusconi: the "normal" solution

Geoff Andrews, 20 June 2011

Italy’s opposition has wounded Silvio Berlusconi. But it is still far from removing the prime minister - and even further from healing Italian democracy. Here, the case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn offers important lessons, says Geoff Andrews.

Monday 4th April

The new food movement: politics and pleasure

Geoff Andrews, 4 April 2011

The emergent movements around the politics of food are a vital component of debates on the planet’s future, says Geoff Andrews.

Wednesday 16th March

Italy united, Italy divided: the nation at 150

Geoff Andrews, 16 March 2011

Italy’s official celebration of its founding moment finds the country in a dark mood and a long way from home. Geoff Andrews marks the moment and looks for signs of hope.

Wednesday 16th February

Berlusconi - and Italy - on trial

Geoff Andrews, 16 February 2011

The new legal case against Italy's prime minister is also a test for a divided nation at a critical stage in its history, says Geoff Andrews.

Tuesday 14th December

Silvio Berlusconi: endgame, prolonged

Geoff Andrews, 14 December 2010

A narrow confidence vote in Italy’s chamber of deputies extends the turbulent career of Italy’s scandal-ridden prime minister. But the corrosion of Italian democracy under “Berlusconismo” goes wider than one man, says Geoff Andrews.

Thursday 21st October

Silvio Berlusconi: the long goodbye

Geoff Andrews, 21 October 2010

Italy's prime minister is under severe domestic pressure after a fallout with his closest political ally. But a great political survivor still has room to manage his exit strategy, says Geoff Andrews.

Tuesday 8th June

Silvio Berlusconi: culture bites politics

Geoff Andrews, 8 June 2010

A successful, intimidating prime minister has moulded Italy’s public life in his own image. A fearful, supine opposition is paralysed by his achievement. But there is one source of hope, says Geoff Andrews.

Monday 15th February

Beyond Berlusconi: ten questions to Italy’s opposition

Geoff Andrews, 15 February 2010

Italy’s economy and polity are in perennial trouble, but its prime minister Silvio Berlusconi survives every blow. All the more reason to scrutinise Italy's opposition, says Geoff Andrews.

Wednesday 3rd February