TV shows we love: 1992

In the early 1990s, Italy was rocked by a sweeping judicial campaign aimed at cleaning up the pervasive corruption within its political system. The period, known as Tangentopoli or Bribesville, saw a series of high-profile arrests in what became a crucial turning point that significantly impacted the country’s political landscape.

Admittedly difficult to find outside Italy, TV series 1992 perfectly captures the essence of the country’s most turbulent recent times, portraying the conflicts, moods and atmospheres of those who lived through it.

The first part of a trilogy – followed by 1993 and 1994 – 1992 explores the birth and evolution of Italy’s Second Republic, a period in history that laid the groundwork for the subsequent years of a transitioning political system.

Tangentopoli erupted with the arrest of Mario Chiesa, the head of a Milanese public charitable organisation and a key figure in the Socialist Party led by then Prime Minister Bettino Craxi. His arrest in February 1992 for taking a bribe set off a domino effect, leading to a flood of revelations and further arrests. Craxi himself famously downplayed Chiesa’s role, calling him a mere “rascal”, but the incident opened the floodgates to expose the widespread corruption that had infiltrated every level of government and business.

At the heart of the scandal was the Mani Pulite (Clean Hands) investigation, a coordinated effort by a group of magistrates to uncover the deep-seated corruption tying together politicians, entrepreneurs and the industrial sector. While the investigation was heavily marred by political manipulation and controversy, it represented a serious attempt to curb the overwhelming influence of politics in business affairs.

1992 vividly portrays how bribery became the symbol of endemic corruption and how it undermined the principles of meritocracy. The pursuit of favours, connections and recommendations often overshadowed genuine talent and hard work, trapping Italy in a cycle of nepotism and cronyism.

The series’ brilliant narrative reflects a social model where ingratiating oneself with those in power often provided a passport to success or even basic survival, at the expense of those who lacked representation or clout.

Sadly, 1992 not only chronicles these historical events but also serves as a mirror reflecting the broader socio-political decay that continues to plague Italy to these days.