There is no such thing as populism without « the people ». However, this notion remains far from unambiguous, especially when faced with the marked variability of populist manifestations. What do populist parties and leaders mean when they appeal to « the people »? Which notion of « the people » is specific to populism? To answer this question, this article addresses the case of Italy, the only country amongst consolidated constitutional democracies in which various populist political forces co-habit simultaneously, and that therefore represents a privileged observatory for the study of populism from the nineties onwards. In analyzing the meaning in which the notion of « the people » recurs in the political discourse of Italian populist parties and leaders, it will become evident that there is no such thing as a « populist people », but rather multiple and variable formations. The imaginative nature of these different « peoples » will emerge, as well as the potential they have to arouse a feeling of belonging thanks to an ability to evoke an emotional place, a heartland.

Serughetti, G. (2020). Who are « the people » in Italy’s multiple populisms?. REVUE TUNISIENNE DE SCIENCE POLITIQUE, 2(4), 71-95.

Who are « the people » in Italy’s multiple populisms?

Serughetti, G
2020

Abstract

There is no such thing as populism without « the people ». However, this notion remains far from unambiguous, especially when faced with the marked variability of populist manifestations. What do populist parties and leaders mean when they appeal to « the people »? Which notion of « the people » is specific to populism? To answer this question, this article addresses the case of Italy, the only country amongst consolidated constitutional democracies in which various populist political forces co-habit simultaneously, and that therefore represents a privileged observatory for the study of populism from the nineties onwards. In analyzing the meaning in which the notion of « the people » recurs in the political discourse of Italian populist parties and leaders, it will become evident that there is no such thing as a « populist people », but rather multiple and variable formations. The imaginative nature of these different « peoples » will emerge, as well as the potential they have to arouse a feeling of belonging thanks to an ability to evoke an emotional place, a heartland.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
populism, the people, Italy
English
2020
2
4
71
95
none
Serughetti, G. (2020). Who are « the people » in Italy’s multiple populisms?. REVUE TUNISIENNE DE SCIENCE POLITIQUE, 2(4), 71-95.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/297158
Citazioni
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
Social impact