This book brings together leading academics to provide a comprehensive analysis of one of the most closely fought general elections in Italian history. Covering the political, economic and foreign-policy background, the campaign and the outcome, the book offers a sequel to Newell's volume on the 2001 election. Closely reflecting the structure of the earlier volume, the work gives readers the added value of a book allowing direct comparison of the 2006 election with the previous one - while providing insight into an event that is of crucial importance for an understanding of the current trajectory of Italian politics. As with the previous volume, this one begins with a consideration of the context in which the election took place - before moving on to consider the preparations made by the two main electoral coalitions in the months leading up to the campaign, the campaign issues, the role of the media, the response of the electorate and the composition of the new parliament. Accessible to both specialists and the interested general reader, this book will be essential reading for academics, election analysts, journalists and policy-makers alike.