A basic contradiction seems to plague the intellectual and political life of Italy: a thirty centuries old society is kept together by a very recent political structure. Statesmanship is generally reduced to a gambling exercise, from Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, whit his «Futurism Manifesto» (Figaro, 1909) to Beppe Grillo and the so - called «Five Stars Movement» - a professional comedian turned overnight political leader. It would be sad and disquieting to have to conclude that Italian problems are desperate but not serious.