Edoardo Ongaro is Professor of Public Management at The Open University, UK.Carla Barbati was Professor of Administrative Law at IULM University, Italy.Fabrizio Di Mascio is Professor of Political Science at the University of Turin, Italy.Francesco Longo is Associate Professor of Public and Health Care Management at Bocconi University, and Senior Professor at the SDA Bocconi School of Management, Italy.Alessandro Natalini is Professor of Administrative Science and Public Policy at Parthenope University of Naples, Italy.

• 1. Introduction rationale for the book, theoretical framework, unfolding of the sections and themes.- Part 1: The study of PA in Italy: Theoretical-philosophical perspectives on studying PA.- 2. Political philosophy and public governance in Italy: Freedom and Justice.- 3. Democracy in Italy, legitimacy and justification of public governance.- 4. The philosophical foundations of the digital world: implications for Italian PA.- 5. Rule of law: applied legal theory.- 6. Challenges to the rule of law: The level and forms of corruption in Italian PA and Institutional and governance responses to corruption and the Anti-corruption Authority.- 7. The Italian Constitution and its values (art 97-98): implications for PA and its reforms (public competition for recruitment, impartiality and the 3-Es (efficiency, effectiveness, economy).- 8. The constitutional Court jurisprudence and administrative action.- 9. Devolution in Italy and its implications for constitutional and values change.- 10. Regional and local governments in Italy.- 11. Epistemology, methodology of research in social sciences and the study of PA.- 12. Methods and approaches in PA Research in Italy.- 13. PA as practical humanism: reflections for Italian PA.- Part 2: Innovation and futures: PA in Italy and the challenges ahead.- 14. The changed EU governance, the impact of the EU Resilience and Recovery Plan, and the dynamic of EU-driven public sector reforms.- 15. Digital Transition and the development of policy and administrative capacities in Italy.- 16. The Green Transition and its implications for Italian PA: capacities and preparedness.- 17. Gender Equality in Italian PA.- 18. The Configuration of Welfare in Italy.- 19. The ‘Southern Question’, economic development and public intervention.- 20. Conclusions: Perspectives on PA in Italy in the frame of global (UN SDGs) and regional (EU) goals and trends.

Edoardo Ongaro is Professor of Public Management at The Open University, UK.Carla Barbati was Professor of Administrative Law at IULM University, Italy.Fabrizio Di Mascio is Professor of Political Science at the University of Turin, Italy.Francesco Longo is Associate Professor of Public and Health Care Management at Bocconi University, and Senior Professor at the SDA Bocconi School of Management, Italy.Alessandro Natalini is Professor of Administrative Science and Public Policy at Parthenope University of Naples, Italy.

• 1. Introduction rationale for the book, theoretical framework, unfolding of the sections and themes.- Part 1: The study of PA in Italy: Theoretical-philosophical perspectives on studying PA.- 2. Political philosophy and public governance in Italy: Freedom and Justice.- 3. Democracy in Italy, legitimacy and justification of public governance.- 4. The philosophical foundations of the digital world: implications for Italian PA.- 5. Rule of law: applied legal theory.- 6. Challenges to the rule of law: The level and forms of corruption in Italian PA and Institutional and governance responses to corruption and the Anti-corruption Authority.- 7. The Italian Constitution and its values (art 97-98): implications for PA and its reforms (public competition for recruitment, impartiality and the 3-Es (efficiency, effectiveness, economy).- 8. The constitutional Court jurisprudence and administrative action.- 9. Devolution in Italy and its implications for constitutional and values change.- 10. Regional and local governments in Italy.- 11. Epistemology, methodology of research in social sciences and the study of PA.- 12. Methods and approaches in PA Research in Italy.- 13. PA as practical humanism: reflections for Italian PA.- Part 2: Innovation and futures: PA in Italy and the challenges ahead.- 14. The changed EU governance, the impact of the EU Resilience and Recovery Plan, and the dynamic of EU-driven public sector reforms.- 15. Digital Transition and the development of policy and administrative capacities in Italy.- 16. The Green Transition and its implications for Italian PA: capacities and preparedness.- 17. Gender Equality in Italian PA.- 18. The Configuration of Welfare in Italy.- 19. The ‘Southern Question’, economic development and public intervention.- 20. Conclusions: Perspectives on PA in Italy in the frame of global (UN SDGs) and regional (EU) goals and trends.