Il berlusconismo nella storia d’Italia

Rome, IAI, June 2023, 3 p. (IAI Commentaries ; 23|29), 2023

Silvio Berlusconi’s death marks the end of a phase in the history of the Italian Republic, the so-called Second Republic. It was an era in which Italy’s parties, from the Christian Democrats to the Socialists and the Communists, faded into obscurity, giving way to the spectacularisation of politics and a strong characterisation of political parties by a direct relationship between leaders and citizens. Berlusconi crafted a new and unprecedented centre-right coalition: he embodied and inspired a new way of doing politics, halfway between the aspiration to affirm a model of authentic liberalism in Italy and the temptation to embrace the methods and practices of a nascent populism.

Analysing the political and social conflicts in post−war Italy, Francesco M. Biscione recognizes the seeds of civil war that "without interruption, have cast a shadow over our collective life". An "underground Italy" far removed from the principles of the republican constitution can be found at every social level throughout the post−war period. These classes have finally found their political home in the movement conceived and led by Silvio Berlusconi.

2004

Bullettin of The Transilvania University of Brasovn. n. 2/2013

Italy is in a transitional phase to a new party system, which will probably lead to a different method of institutional functioning. This essay illustrates the transition from the Berlusconi Government to Monti Government end after to the "Grand coalition" Government. This step opens an unprecedented phase of the Italian democracy which seems to mark a break with the characteristics that the political and institutional life had taken in recent years. Although it is too early to describe the characteristics of the new phase, we can highlight some points which justify the assessment of the discontinuity. Among the main features of institutional life in the era of Berlusconism, can be mentioned the charismatic leadership, the context of heightened corporatism of the political class, the mortification of the Parliament and the transfer of its legislative powers to the Government, the constant aggression against Constitution and Fundamental Rights, the attempt to impose ethical views by the majority

Political Studies, 2013

Despite the electoral success of Silvio Berlusconi's two political parties, little theoretical and empirical work has been done on Forza Italia (FI) and the Popolo Della Libertà (PDL – People of Freedom). This article aims to fill these gaps. Following a short overview of the history of FI and the PDL, it discusses how scholars have conceived of Forza Italia. Building on the criteria of Joseph LaPalombara and Myron Weiner for the definition of a political party, a first operational definition is then offered of the term most used to classify FI and the PDL: the ‘personal party’. On the basis of this, the article considers whether the PDL is another personal party akin to Forza Italia. This is done, first, by briefly considering the party statute and communications and, second, by examining the views expressed in interviews conducted across Italy with PDL elected representatives and ordinary party members.

Government and Opposition, 2009

Until the early 1990s, the Italian political system was regarded as anomalous among advanced democracies because of its failure to achieve alternation in government. Since then, that problem has been overcome, but Italy has been popularly viewed as continuing to be different to other democracies because it is ‘in transition’ between regimes. However, this position itself is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain because of the length of time of this so-called transition. Rather than focus on what is rather an abstract debate, it may be more fruitful to analyse what, in substance, is distinctive about Italian politics in this period: the manner in which a debate over fundamental institutional (including electoral) reform has become entangled in day-to-day politics. This can best be exemplified through an analysis of two key electoral consultations held in 2006: the national elections and the referendum on radically revising the Italian Constitution.

Journal of Modern Italian Studies 18:3, 2013

This special issue of the Journal of Modern Italian Studies takes Jürgen Habermas's landmark analysis of the modern public sphere as its point of departure for exploring the Italians' historical relation to democracy. The introduction first sketches the innovative dimensions of Habermas's effort to ground the legitimacy of modern democracy in the open, reasoned dialogue of an independent public opinion. It then raises questions about the status of the public sphere in contemporary Italy, especially in light of the prolonged prominence of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at the summit of governmental power. In this context, the emergence, development and historical specificity of Italy's democratic public arena and its institutions need to be interrogated. The introduction provides an overview of the perspectives and insights offered by this issue's participants on the different aspects of the Italian public sphere. It also begins to assess the limitations as well as potential of the Italians' commitment to democracy.

2013

International Social Science Journal, 2009

He is a specialist on Italy, focusing on unofficial political practices (clientelism, corruption and political criminality), on parties and elites and also on the moral economy of political and party ties. His recent publications include Mafia, justice et politique en Italie. L'affaire Andreotti et la crise de la re´publique (1992-2005),