Istituto Cattaneo

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Istituto Cattaneo is an Italian research institute based in Bologna that studies political science, public policy, electoral systems, and sociology. Founded in the 1960s, it operates at the intersection of academic research and public debate, engaging with Italian and European institutions such as the European Parliament, Italian Parliament, Council of Europe, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The institute collaborates with universities and think tanks including University of Bologna, Sciences Po, London School of Economics, Columbia University, and Bocconi University.

History

The institute traces origins to a postwar milieu influenced by figures linked to Christian Democracy (Italy), Italian Socialist Party, Italian Communist Party, and the intellectual climate around Catholic Action and Giovanni Battista Montini. Early decades saw engagement with scholars from University of Milan, Sapienza University of Rome, University of Padua, and research exchange with institutions like the Ford Foundation, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and NATO affiliated centers. The institute responded to political shifts tied to events such as the Years of Lead, the Tangentopoli scandals, and referendums following Treaty of Maastricht, aligning studies with developments in European integration, Italian regionalism, and debates around the Constitution of Italy. Over time it expanded links to international bodies such as the United Nations and agencies like the European Commission and think tanks including Chatham House and Brookings Institution.

The institute's mission emphasizes empirical analysis for stakeholders including President of Italy, Prime Minister of Italy, regional councils like Regional Council of Emilia-Romagna, municipal governments such as Metropolitan City of Bologna, and political parties like Democratic Party (Italy), Forza Italia, Lega Nord, Five Star Movement. Activities include conducting surveys for media outlets such as Rai, Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica, and Il Sole 24 Ore, supporting policymaking linked to instruments like referendum procedures, electoral law reforms such as changes to the Rosatellum and earlier Porcellum, and analyses relevant to supranational politics involving European Parliament elections and European Council deliberations.

Research covers comparative studies linking cases like Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, and Poland to Italian developments. Publications include working papers, monographs, policy briefs, and datasets used by scholars at Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge. Outputs analyze phenomena tied to events like the 2008 financial crisis, Eurozone crisis, Migration crisis in Europe, and policy responses under leaders such as Matteo Renzi, Giuseppe Conte, Silvio Berlusconi, Enrico Letta, and Mario Monti. The institute maintains archives and bibliographies referencing works by Giovanni Sartori, Robert Dahl, Seymour Martin Lipset, Maurice Duverger, and contemporary authors publishing in journals like European Journal of Political Research and Journal of Democracy.

Analytical work uses quantitative methods related to studies exemplified by Duverger's law, comparative models from Maurice Duverger, and electoral datasets comparable to those from the European Election Database and International IDEA. Analyses cover voter behavior in contexts such as the Italian general election, 2018, European Parliament election, 2019, Italian constitutional referendum, 2016, and local contests in cities like Rome, Milan, Naples, and Turin. Research informs debates about party systems exemplified by party system fragmentation cases including shifts involving Christian Democracy (Italy), Italian Republican Party, Italian Social Movement, and newer formations like Italia Viva.

The institute runs training for staff from institutions including the Italian Senate, Chamber of Deputies (Italy), regional administrations like Lombardy, Sicily, and international partners such as Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and United Nations Development Programme. Programs cover survey methodology aligned with standards from Eurobarometer, data visualization practices used by projects like Our World in Data, and workshops referencing analytical techniques from texts by Andrew Gelman and Angus Deaton. It offers internships and PhD collaborations with departments at University of Bologna, University of Siena, and research networks like European Consortium for Political Research.

Governance includes a board with members drawn from academia, media, and public administration with affiliations to institutions such as Bank of Italy, Ministry of Economy and Finance (Italy), Italian National Institute of Statistics, and foundations like Cariplo Foundation and Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo. Funding mixes project grants from the European Commission, contracts with national ministries, donations from foundations such as Open Society Foundations, and commissioned research for outlets including RCS MediaGroup and Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso. Partnerships extend to universities like University of Trento and policy centers such as Fondazione per la Scuola.