Brothers of Italy : A New Populist Wave in an Unstable Party System

This volume examines the origins, ideology, organisation, leadership, political alliances, electoral performance and institutional role of the right-wing party Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia, Fdl). FdI's meteoric rise is only the latest in a series of shocks that have hit Italy's unstable political system in recent years. However, it would be a mistake to brand FdI as yet another Italian anomaly. Indeed, the party stands at the crossroads between an established political tradition, that of the post-fascist and conservative right, and the more recent populist waves that have affected many mature democracies. By placing Giorgia Meloni's party in a comparative analytical framework, the author shows that its success stems from a mix of past legacies and current developments seen in much of Europe (and beyond): the growing role of right-wing female leaders and their reliance on new media; the mainstreaming of the far right mixed with populist repertoires; the de-alignment and (partial) re-alignment of voters; the reconfiguration of electoral geographies; and ultimately the emergence of an illiberal model of democracy. In short, rather than being an exception, FdI can be seen as one of the most recent and advanced manifestations of a broader process of political change sweeping the West. Davide Vampa is Senior Lecturer in Politics at Aston University, UK. His work focuses on transformations in democratic representation, rising populism and the links between territorial party politics and public policy About This Book Contents About the Author Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables 1 Brothers of Italy, the Radical Right and Populism in Italy Brothers of Italy: Between Past, Present and Future Re-Igniting the Flame: From the Post-Fascist Tradition to the Populist Turn A Multi-Dimensional Framework of Analysis Structure of the Book References 2 Ideology and Policy Positions FdI’s Ideological Diamond: Nativism, Authoritarianism, Populism and Sovereignism FdI’s Programmatic Positions FdI’s Programmatic Development (2013–2022) 2013: ‘The Challenges Ahead for Italy’ 2014–2019: The years of Radicalisation 2022: ‘Ready to Revive Italy’ Conclusion Postscript: FdI’s Ideological and Programmatic Profile in Comparative Perspective References 3 Organisation and Leadership A ‘Presidential’ Party Organisational Structure Party Membership and Resources Giorgia Meloni’s Leadership Conclusion Postscript: FdI’s Organisation and Leadership in Comparative Perspective References 4 Political Friends and Foes Exiting the Political Mainstream to Become the New Mainstream Domestic Allies: League and Forza Italia Domestic Opponents: Democratic Party and Five Star Movement International Connections: From the European Conservatives and Reformists to Trump’s Republicans Conclusion Postscript: Right-Wing Populist Integration in Other European Countries References 5 Winning Votes A Meteoric Rise Analysing FdI’s Electoral Success: Where? How? Who? Where? How? Who? Multi-Level Electoral Success: The Local, Regional and European Arenas Conclusion Postscript: The Electoral Success of FdI in the Western European Context References 6 Winning Seats (and Government) Translating Votes into Political Power Who Was Elected? In Government Local, Regional and European Levels Conclusion Postscript: FdI and the Institutional Role of Populist Radical Right Parties in Other Western European Countries References 7 Conclusion: Ten Lessons from Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy Radical Legacies and Populist Innovations The Growing Importance of Sovereignism in a Multi-Dimensional Ideological Framework Leaders and Followers: Old Organisational Imperatives and New Media Strategies Female Leaders in Männerparteien Systemic Integration and the Importance of Establishing Alliances (And Finding the Right Opponents) An International Network of Nationalists The Complexities of Electoral Geography Education: The New Political Divide? Populists Competing for Votes Between Inclusion-Moderation and Democratic Backsliding References Index