What kind of Italy? the cultural battle waged by Europe’s new populist leader against Brussels

Paul Rowinski

Research Output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding Chapter Peer-review

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Abstract

This chapter captures the moment communicated in the Italian press, as Europe’s new self-appointed populist leader, then interior minister, Matteo Salvini, waged war on Brussels and the Pope, over immigration. Salvini spoke in Milan, just ahead of the 2019 EU elections, flanked by Europe’s populists, including France’s Marie Le Pen and Holland’s Geert Wilders, all hoping for victory for their European Parliamentary bloc. What is explored is if the coarseness of Salvini’s emotive rhetoric over immigration – a key driver of Euroscepticism, has possibly intensified in the Post-Truth digitally-led media age This is an age in which Salvini and other populists can communicate to millions online, circumnavigating the need to get messages across to the mainstream media. In this world, Post-Truth emotive rhetoric can eclipse the previous sanctity of facts. They count less. This poses many problems for the mainstream press. Proposals for a response conclude the chapter. .

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding Chapter Peer-review

Original language

English

Publication milestones

Published - 30/11/2020

Publication status

Published - 30/11/2020

Place of publication

London

Publisher

Routledge, United States, United Kingdom

External Publication IDs

handle.net: 10547/624692

Host publication title

Routledge Companion to Political Journalism.