Showing papers in "Contemporary Italian Politics in 2018"
TL;DR: The Five Star Movement (M5S) in Italy and Podemos in Spain this article were initially dismissed as protest movements, but both point to broad support for broad social movements.
Abstract: Democratic politics in Southern Europe have been shaken by the emergence of the Five Star Movement (M5S) in Italy and Podemos in Spain. Initially dismissed as protest movements, both point to broad...
62 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors look at the public debate and political activities concerning the reform of the ius soli provisions in the Italian Nationality Law and describe the current Nationality law in its rat...
Abstract: This article looks at the public debate and political activities concerning the reform of the ius soli provisions in the Italian Nationality Law. It describes the current Nationality Law in its rat...
21 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the motivations behind the electoral success of the Lega and the Five-Star Movement at the 2018 Italian general election and show that, in most of the literature on populism, the success of new Eu...
Abstract: We explore the motivations behind the electoral success of the Lega and the Five-star Movement at the 2018 Italian general election. In most of the literature on populism, the success of the new Eu...
21 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors employ the three-circle approach to analyze Italy's foreign policy, arguing that the three circles approach remains relevant in 2017, and that Italy under the Gentiloni government faced significant foreign policy challenges in 2017 against the backdrop of a volatile geopolitical climate.
Abstract: Italy under the Gentiloni government faced significant foreign policy challenges in 2017 against the backdrop of a volatile geopolitical climate. The present chapter employs the ‘three circles’ approach to analyze Italy’s foreign policy, arguing that the three circles approach remains relevant in 2017. In the first Atlanticist foreign policy circle, Italy’s foreign policy influence appears at first blush to have weakened, owing to growing American isolationism and uncertainty surrounding support of NATO and multilateralism more broadly, though the Gentiloni government succeeded to some extent in bridge-building efforts with the United States. In the second European foreign policy circle, Italy’s influence was somewhat enhanced as it took positions of solidarity with its European partners on critical security, economic and environmental matters. In the third Mediterranean foreign policy circle, Italy sought to take on a more active role in addressing the Libyan conflict and the migrant crisis, but ...
14 citations
TL;DR: In the short history of the Italian Five Star Movement (M5s), 2017 was an important year from a symbolic and substantial point of view as discussed by the authors, and the municipal elections held in June marked the end o...
Abstract: 2017 is an important year in the short history of the Italian Five star Movement (M5s), both from a symbolic and substantial point of view. Municipal elections held in June marked the end o...
13 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an updated overview of the "Muslim question" in Italy read through the prism of the right to religious freedom is presented, examining the main acquisitions made by the government.
Abstract: This article offers an updated overview of the ‘Muslim question’ in Italy read through the prism of the right to religious freedom. In particular, the article examines the main acquisitions...
12 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose an alternative and more robust idea of democracy to offer normative guidance in democratising contemporary societies, on the basis of a common framework of participatory and deliberative norms.
Abstract: Defining what democracy means nowadays seems increasingly problematic as several alternative democratic visions are being developed and contrasted in normative theory and political practice. On the one hand, there are traditional accounts of democracy that are highly formal and minimalistic. Citizens are endowed with political rights, which they use to advance their interests, particularly through regular elections, which delegate power to governing representatives. Representative democracy has been long identified with this conception. On the other hand, alternative perspectives have emphasised the untapped potential of liberal societies. These more radical perspectives belong to two main democratic traditions: participatory democracy and deliberative democracy. On the basis of a common framework of participatory and deliberative norms, this paper envisages an alternative and more robust idea of democracy to offer normative guidance in democratising contemporary societies. We tie our discussion t...
12 citations
TL;DR: For many years after World War Two, the mass party model dominated Italian politics as mentioned in this paper, and high rates of membership and activism were considered to be essential for optimising electoral performance.
Abstract: For many years after World War Two, the mass party model dominated Italian politics. High rates of membership and activism were considered to be essential for optimising electoral performance, for ...
11 citations
TL;DR: In 2017, the parties of the centre-right camp as mentioned in this paper faced the puzzle of deciding whether to support the anti-semitic motion in the European Parliament, and they decided to abstain.
Abstract: In 2017, the parties of the centre-right camp – Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia, Matteo Salvini’s (Northern) League and Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia – faced the puzzle of deciding whether to...
11 citations
TL;DR: The authors analyzed the historical roots of the recent revival of the mutual prejudice between Germany and Italy in European politics, and argued that the resurgence of mutual prejudice can also be seen as the expression of a recurrent historical pattern in Europe politics after 1945.
Abstract: This article analyses the historical roots of the recent revival of the mutual prejudice between Germany and Italy in European politics. The paper seeks to explain the longevity of stereotyped representations of ‘the other’ in German-Italian relations down to the present day. To this end, both the national post-war memories and the ‘memory cultures’ of the two countries have to be taken into account. Furthermore, it argues that the resurgence of mutual prejudice between Germany and Italy can also be seen as the expression of a recurrent historical pattern in European politics after 1945. Despite the image of peaceful cooperation that has often been conveyed, the history of European integration has seen disagreements and conflict between the member states, periodically exhuming historic bones of contention and asymmetries. At points of heightened tension, one-sided or controversial post-war historical memories have tended to surface, steeped in stereotype, commonplace and prejudice. One recurrent c...
10 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a more pluralist interpretation of Italian action at international level is presented, which is able to outline an image of Italy as a normative power able to influence the formulation of the principles that determine what is legitimate at the international level.
Abstract: The text offers a new assessment of Italy’s contribution to international affairs. Through a more pluralist interpretation of Italian action at international level it is possible to outline an image of Italy as a normative power able to influence the formulation of the principles that determine what is legitimate at international level. Italy’s contribution in recent decades has been crucial in a series of transnational campaigns that have had a significant impact globally. These cases illustrate the role played by Italy in the politics of changing international norms related to human rights. The mobilisations have been the result of a combination of factors, including the intense synergy that has been established between the actions of the Italian government and Italian civil-society organisations. This study analyses eight cases in which such synergy has been positive, leading to a significant impact of Italian hybrid diplomacy on international politics.
TL;DR: The multiple crises faced by the European Union as discussed by the authors, economic stagnation, geopolitical insecurity, refugee and migration flows, and some side-effects of the integration process (e.g., fiscal austerity)
Abstract: The multiple crises faced by the European Union – economic stagnation, geopolitical insecurity, refugee and migration flows – and some side-effects of the integration process (e.g. fiscal austerity...
TL;DR: The special issue on the 2018 Italian general election as mentioned in this paper presents the main features of the election and reviews contemporary models of voting choice in established and emerging democracies, including the United States.
Abstract: This article introduces the Special Issue on the 2018 Italian general election. It presents the main features of the election and reviews contemporary models of voting choice in established...
TL;DR: In Italy, 2017 was a period of intense natural disasters but also of laboured reforms to the national civil protection system, which was under strain after a series of damaging earthquakes as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: In Italy, 2017 was a period of intense natural disasters but also of laboured reforms to the national civil protection system, which was under strain after a series of damaging earthquakes ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors derived from a survey research and a content analysis of traditional media, in the 2018 Italian election campaign, and found that traditional Italian news media partisanhip was high.
Abstract: This article derives from a survey research and a content analysis of traditional media, in the 2018 Italian election campaign. In the first part, traditional Italian news media partisanhip...
TL;DR: The Movimento 5 Stelle (M5s, Five Star Movement) has consolidated its position as the third "pole" of the Italian party system without ever spelling out what compromises it may be willing to make as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The Movimento 5 Stelle (M5s, Five Star Movement) has consolidated its position as the third ‘pole’ of the Italian party system without ever spelling out what compromises it may be willing to make f...
TL;DR: The massive vote shift in the 2018 elections, underlies a changed configuration of the social stratification of the vote as mentioned in this paper, and the end result is one of an increased heterogeneity of social b...
Abstract: The massive vote shift in the 2018 elections, underlies a changed configuration of the social stratification of the vote. The end-result is one of an increased heterogeneity of the social b...
TL;DR: The 2018 elections confirmed the tri-polar format of the party system, with three opposing aggregations, each of which has a majority (or at least enjoys considerably more support) in a spe...
Abstract: The 2018 elections confirmed the tri-polar format of the party system, with three opposing aggregations, each of which has a majority (or at least enjoys considerably more support) in a spe...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors shed light on the different approaches used by Germany and Italy in adopting and implementing the instruments created to tackle the Eurozone crisis, with special reference to the Europ...
Abstract: The article sheds light on the different approaches used by Germany and Italy in adopting and implementing the instruments created to tackle the Eurozone crisis, with special reference to the Europ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the history of electoral reform in Italy from the point of view of the normative assumptions implicit in the reforms, and in particular the conceptions of democracy that have inspired reform strategies, arguing that where the electoral system occupies a permanent and high profile place on the political agenda, there is it an indicator of the degree of de-structuration of the political system and the persisting nature of this state of affairs.
Abstract: The article explores the history of electoral reform in Italy from the point of view of the normative assumptions implicit in the reforms, and in particular the conceptions of democracy that have inspired reform strategies. It argues that where the electoral system occupies a permanent and high profile place on the political agenda, there is it an indicator of the degree of de-structuration of the political system and the persisting nature of this state of affairs. Underlying the various attempts at institutional reform undertaken in Italy over the past quarter century is an interpretation of the country’s ‘democratic crisis’ as a ‘crisis of governability’ rather than a ‘crisis of legitimacy’. The penultimate section of the article examines the latest electoral reform, showing that it is the fruit of contingent calculations deprived of any politico-cultural inspiration: the latest product of confused attempts at electoral bricolage as opposed to a genuine and rational attempt at electoral engineer...
TL;DR: In 2018, storm clouds were gathering over the Italian economy, its ruling coalition and its relations with Europe as the Government was discussing its addendum (nota di aggiornamento) to the Economic and Financial Planning Document which had been presented by the outgoing Gentiloni administration in April.
Abstract: As we were going to press, storm clouds were gathering over the Italian economy, its ruling coalition and its relations with Europe as the Government was discussing its addendum (nota di aggiornamento) to the Economic and Financial Planning Document which had been presented by the outgoing Gentiloni administration in April. While the latter had planned for a budget deficit of 0.8% in 2019, Luigi di Maio and Matteo Salvini were arguing for a deficit of 2.4%; Finance Minister, Giovanni Tria, was threatening to resign; the spread on German government bonds had risen to 267 basis points and shares on the Milan stock exchange had fallen by 3.7% in value. Like most thunderstorms, this one too had been entirely predictable given that the parties that had taken office four months previously had had economic plans that looked like adding some €100 billion to public expenditure. As so often in Italian politics, the country seemed to be facing a watershed moment. But precisely because of this – precisely because hardly a year has gone by since the end of the Cold War without producing some seeming political earthquake or another – the metaphor itself might now appear to be rather tired – meaning that it will be worthwhile to take stock of how much of what has happened since the beginning of the year betokens something genuinely new and unusual comparatively speaking, and how much reflects continuity or tendencies apparent elsewhere. Here we do this for parties, voters, the government and the regime. Novelty or otherwise in the area of parties and voters is considered in some detail in the articles making up this special issue guest-edited by Paolo Bellucci to whom we extend heartfelt thanks; but here we may note that the 4 March elections, while bringing considerable electoral volatility did not bring change to the party system’s format. The outcome reflected the heightened party-system instability of recent years that is apparent elsewhere in Europe while bringing little in the way of ‘regeneration’ in Chiaramonte and Emanuele’s (2017) terms. The most salient of the campaign issues, immigration and the EU; the growth of the populists; the decline of the left: all these reflected trends fully apparent throughout Europe, thanks to the declining significance of traditional social cleavages, the eclipse of the mass parties, the draining away of power from national legislatures, globalisation and the growing cultural and economic divide between its winners and losers. The real novelty came after the election, with the formation of the government. This had less to do with the process involved – neither the time it took nor its political ‘logic’ (with both consensual and majoritarian logics being unavailable) were especially unusual, either cross-nationally or as compared with Italy’s past. The novelty lay in the government’s political colouring as post-war Western Europe’s first ‘all-populist’ coalition. This affirmation requires some additional observations since the characterisation of the Five-star Movement (M5s) as ‘populist’ is not universally accepted. We suggest that CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN POLITICS 2018, VOL. 10, NO. 3, 215–217 https://doi.org/10.1080/23248823.2018.1531907
TL;DR: The absence of an electoral law able to provide a clear winner at the 2013 parliamentary elections has contributed to the 2017 Italian political communication environment as mentioned in this paper, where parties and leaders' leaders'...
Abstract: The absence of an electoral law able to provide a clear winner at the 2013 parliamentary elections has contributed to the 2017 Italian political communication environment. The parties and leaders’ ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on Italo-German relations and the way in which prejudices and stereotypes affect them, in light of a long history of prejudice and stereotypes in Italy and Germany.
Abstract: This introduction justifies the decision to focus on Italo-German relations – and in particular on the way in which prejudices and stereotypes affect them – in light of a long history of pa...
TL;DR: The question of whether political parties are in agony is a recurring question as mentioned in this paper, and the answer is often presuppositional, i.e., they are either in agony or they are not in agony.
Abstract: ‘Are political parties in agony?’ is the question with which Piero Ignazi opens the last chapter (Ch. 7) of his book. This is a recurring question, almost a cliche. But the answer is often presuppo...
TL;DR: The Five-Star Movement (M5s) was maintaining its sizeable opinion poll lead at the end of January 2018 as mentioned in this paper, and it was possible that much might change between then and now.
Abstract: As we were going to press at the end of January 2018, the Five-star Movement (M5s) was maintaining its sizeable opinion poll lead. Of course, it was possible that much might change between then and...
TL;DR: The year 2017 represents a key moment in the political life of the PD and the party celebrated 10 years of existence and did so by electing a new leader via open primaries, following the same symbolic...
Abstract: The year 2017 represents a key moment in the political life of the PD. The party celebrated 10 years of existence and did so by electing a new leader via open primaries, following the same symbolic...
TL;DR: This paper conceptualized transnational political communication as an emerging phenomenon in globally connected polities, whereby public discourse in a country increasingly focuses on politics, policies, and policies, rather than on politics themselves.
Abstract: We conceptualise transnational political communication as an emerging phenomenon in globally connected polities, whereby public discourse in a country increasingly focuses on politics, policies, an...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors frame Alitalia's crisis in the processes that have characterized the regulatory and industrial policies of the aviation industry over the last twenty years, and present the reasons that le...
Abstract: This article aims to frame Alitalia’s crisis in the processes that have characterized the regulatory and industrial policies of the aviation industry over the last twenty years. The reasons that le...