This open access book unveils the hidden elite of Italy's third sector, offering a rare glimpse into the lives and minds of civil society's most influential leaders. Bridging elite and civil society studies, it presents pioneering research on these powerful yet understudied figures. Through in-depth analysis, the chapters reveal surprising insights about the elite's composition, attitudes, career trajectories, and views on power. Essential reading for scholars of democracy, civil society, and social policy, this volume challenges conventional wisdom about leadership in the nonprofit world. By illuminating the dynamics of Italy's third sector elite, it reshapes our understanding of civil society's role in modern democracies.

Cecilia Santilli is a researcher in Socio-anthropology at the School of Social Work at Lund University, Sweden. Her primary research interests include civil society, politics, and policies from a comparative perspective. She is currently involved in a research project examining the impact of populism on civil society.

Roberto Scaramuzzino is Associate Professor of Social Work at Lund University, Sweden. His main research interests are civil society and its functions in welfare societies and for migrant integration. He is currently leading a research project about civil society and populism, focusing on how the rise to power of populist parties affects state-civil society relations.

"The volume explores the European context of civil society and its elites; readers outside of Europe should supplement with materials that suit their national context. ... the book is available virtually, graduate students and researchers interested in international civil societies, policy politics, power dynamics in civil society, and equity will find this book useful. ... In general, anyone interested in learning more about Italian civil society will love this volume." (Imoleayo (Ayo) Adeyeri, Voluntas, Vol 36 (3), June, 2025)