Introduction or preface

Based on his own experience and documents of the editorial board, the Director of «Passato e presente» reflects upon the history of the journal, from its foundation in 1982 up to today. Taking into account the context of Italian history journals and the deep political and cultural changes in the country, Gabriele Turi analyses the innovative feature sections of the journal, its collaborations with Italian and overseas scholars, its broadening scope as well as the most debated topics and the circulation of the journal. The underlying thread of «Passato e presente» still remains, according to Turi, the difficult balance between professional ethos and public engagement, which was put to test especially while drafting the editorial on 9/11 and the organization of the 2002 and 2010 conferences on Berlusconi and the berlusconismo.