Abstract
South Tyrol enjoys the special status of an autonomous Region within Italy. In a comparative perspective, the South Tyrolean case is quite unique in terms of powers and guarantees as well as in its duration showing the effects of decades of working autonomy. This raises interesting questions regarding the sustainable and durable accommodation of conflicting interests, the relations with the Italian State and the influence of this autonomous system on Italy’s federalizing process (which has entered a difficult period after the ambitious constitutional reforms of 2001). And vice-versa: what is the impact of the current crisis of Italy’s political system on South Tyrol? The aim is to analyse the South Tyrolean situation as a case study within the larger Italian context.