The essay sheds light on the role that Minghetti bestows on the State in the management of the economic development and in the government of the social question. Thus, the essay underlines how Minghetti’s ministerial and political activities temper his liberal economic theory and shows how his project to nationalize railroads and his reflection on the urgency to implement an Italian social legislation don’t imply the loss of individual freedom. In the view of Minghetti, the individual is not just an atom but indeed a real citizen, because he doesn’t act only according to his selfish economic interest, but also following the law and moral norms for the public interest.
Keywords: Minghetti, Italian liberal State, Liberalism