Released: January 17, 2008

Italy's Malaise

Taken aback by critical depictions of their country's "collective funk," Italians are currently engaged in considerable hand-wringing over the condition of their national psyche. As public opinion polls reveal, Italians do seem a bit glum. In spring 2007, the Pew Global Attitudes Project surveyed 47 countries, and on a variety of issues – life satisfaction, national conditions, immigration – Italians had a distinctively negative outlook.

At the same time, however, Italians continue to take great pride in their country, especially its culture. Italians are much more likely than their fellow Westerners to believe in their country's cultural pre-eminence.

Read the full commentary at pewresearch.org