Familysm and cronysm are two aspects of the basic lack of trust that Italians feel the one for the other. Dramatic situations help Italians (as do everybody else) overcome mistrust and get organized, but when things are normal Italians like nothing better than argue and fight among themselves at every which level. Instead of moping, let us just wonder at the magnificent things that these quarrelsome people have been able to achieve all the while hating each others' guts.