The State of Exception and its Effects on Civil Liberties in Italy During the COVID‐19 Crisis

The ongoing global pandemic represents an unprecedented challenge for contemporary political systems. This chapter focuses on the impacts of the pandemic containment measures and the consequent considerable restrictions on constitutional rights and civil liberties. It defines the essential elements of the State of Exception (SoE) both in general and in the Italian context. The chapter explores some of the features that characterize the declaration and implementation of SoE on a global level with a focus on the COVID-19 emergency. It analyzes, respectively, the regulation and implementation of SoE and containment measures in Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter explains the effects of SoE and containment measures on civil liberties. It also explains the main critical aspects of SoE in Italy and some implications relevant to both research and policymaking.