Italy’s new populist government has attracted interest in the USA, and in particular in the small, but active American Catholic anti-liberal and neo-traditionalist minority. There is a perceptible fascination with the new League-Five Star populist government
This crisis has many causes, proximate and deeper. I should like to suggest one perspective from which to examine them, that of Italy’s approach to European political and economic integration. For the events of the past week revolved around euro-zone membership, in more than one way.
Ask most analysts and pundits about what the current problem with Italy is and you will likely get a one-word answer: Populism.
It is by no means an easy task to construct a majority coalition government which is representative of the March 4th electoral results.In terms of percentages and votes, there are two indisputable winners: the Five Star Movement (Movimento 5 Stelle, M5S) is by far the most voted party
Italy’s Five Star Movement (Movimento 5 Stelle, M5S) has both a short and a long history. Let’s begin with the short history.
It is part of a broad phenomenon called anti-establishment ideology, which is the backbone of populism.