This book provides a lively and comprehensive account of the unprecedented Italian general election of 2018 and of its profound significance for Italy and beyond. The contributions in this volume cover the political, economic and international contexts in which the vote took place, and consider the main election contenders in the run-up to the election as well as the campaigns. The book further examines the election outcome, analysing the votes and discussing the impact of the election on the turnover of parliamentary personnel as well as examining the outcome from the viewpoint of government formation.

James L. Newell is a former professor of politics at the University of Salford, UK, and currently a visiting professor at the University of Turin, Italy. He is co-editor of Contemporary Italian Politics and the author of Corruption in Contemporary Politics(2018) and Silvio Berlusconi: A Study in Failure (2018).

Luigi Ceccarini is a researcher for the Laboratory of Political and Social Studies, LaPolis, at the University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Italy, where he teaches society and politics. He is co-editor of Comunicazione Politica and the author of La cittadinanza online (2015) and Tra politica e società (with I. Diamanti, 2018).

Autorentext

Luigi Ceccarini is a researcher for the Laboratory of Political and Social Studies, LaPolis, at the University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Italy, where he teaches society and politics. He is co-editor of Comunicazione Politica and the author of La cittadinanza online (2015) and Tra politica e società (with I. Diamanti, 2018).

James L. Newell is a former professor of politics at the University of Salford, UK, and currently a visiting professor at the University of Turin, Italy. He is co-editor of Contemporary Italian Politics and the author of Corruption in Contemporary Politics(2018) and Silvio Berlusconi: A Study in Failure (2018).

Inhalt

Foreword: The elections of 2018: A (critical) transition Ilvo Diamanti

1. Introduction. 4 March 2018: The paradoxical election

Luigi Ceccarini and James L. Newell

PART I THE CONTEXT

2. The political context 20132018

James L. Newell

3. The economic context 20132018

Michele Capriati

4. An ever tighter constraint: The implications of the Eurozone and migration crises for Italian politics

Maria Giulia Amadia Viceré

PART II THE RUN-UP TO THE ELECTION

5. The three perspectives of the left and the gradual loss of its electorate

Paolo Natale

6. The parties of the centre right

James L. Newell

7. Five stars, five years, five (broken) taboos

Fabio Bordignon and Luigi Ceccarini

PART III THE CAMPAIGN

8. Issues and themes in the 2018 Italian general elections

Marco Valbruzzi

9. Journalistic narratives and political communication strategies against the background of a critical mood: The 2018 election campaign in the traditional media and beyond

Franca Roncarolo and Cristina Cremonesi

10. Digital campaigning: The communications strategies of the leaders on Facebook

Cristopher Cepernich

PART IV. THE OUTCOME

11. Volatile voters and a volatile party system: The results of the 2018 Italian 

general election

Alessandro Chiaramonte and Aldo Paparo

12. Members of the Chamber of Deputies following the 2018 general election

Bruno Marino, Nicola Martocchia Diodati and Luca Verichelli

13. The formation of the government

Gianfranco Pasquino

14. Conclusion. Italy in Uncharted Territory: Towards a new era of uncertainty

James L. Newell and Luigi Ceccarini