‘Inside power’, Baccini talks about politics between the crisis of representation and government responsibility

The starting point is the progressive distance between citizens and institutions. According to the reflection developed in the book, politics lost part of its credibility when it stopped being perceived as a place of decision and responsibility, too often transforming itself into permanent opposition and communication. Hence the central theme of the volume: governing means choosing. It means mediating different interests, taking responsibility and above all being judged on the results.

The administrative experience of Fiumicino thus becomes one of the laboratories through which to read this approach. Airport, port, infrastructure, environment, economic development and protection of local communities represent issues in which great global transformations concretely meet the daily lives of citizens. In the dialogue with Schiavazzi there is also a comparison with Italian political history and with personalities met over the years, but without indulging in nostalgia. The question rather concerns what politics is necessary today, in a more fragmented, fast-paced and distrustful society towards institutions.

“Inside Power” thus ends up posing a question that goes beyond the author’s personal story: if democracy wants to regain authority, it must return to producing participation, decisions and results. Because when “no” and permanent protest prevail, someone must still take responsibility for the “yes”: indicate a direction, build a synthesis and govern.