^aAssistant Professor, Instituto di Economia Politica, Università Bocconi, V Sarfatti, 25 20136 Milano, Italy. E-mail: paolo.graziano@unibocconi.it

¹ I would like to thank Leonardo Morlino for very useful 'first hand' information on the development of political science PhD programmes in Italy.

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to assess the risks and opportunities of entry into the political science profession in Italy. Part one contains some brief reflections on the discipline and its institutionalisation. Part two offers an overview of the main features of the recruitment process and its national peculiarities. Part three looks into the current problems facing young Italian scholars who wish to become academics. Part four concludes with some suggestions to young political scientists who have much hope but also many doubts about how to cope with permanent uncertainty regarding their career development.