Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T19:06:15.318Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Owner parties and party institutionalisation in Italy: is the Northern League exceptional?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 May 2016

Michelangelo Vercesi
Michelangelo Vercesi*
Affiliation:
Center for the Study of Democracy, Leuphana University, Lüneburg, Germany
*
∗Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Studies on party institutionalisation commonly argue that parties with personalist leadership and weak organisation are unlikely to remain in power beyond leadership succession. In other words, these parties will rarely attain their own institutionalisation. From this perspective, the recent Italian political reality represents a conundrum. Three parties of this type – Northern League; Forza Italia; Italy of Values – confronted significant resignation issues concerning their leaders, but only the League, contrary to the theory, made a decisive step toward institutionalisation by removing its founding father and remaining an actor with national blackmail potential. This article addresses this challenge and provides a solution to this conundrum. In particular, the article demonstrates that an approach that considers both party factors and critical events is necessary to account fully for the variance of outcomes and, more generally, for party change.

Gli studi sull'istituzionalizzazione partitica sostengono che i partiti caratterizzati da leadership personaliste e deboli organizzazioni hanno scarse probabilità di sopravvivere alla successione del loro leader. In altre parole, essi incontrerebbero serie difficoltà nel processo di istituzionalizzazione. Da questo punto di vista, la politica italiana più recente ha presentato un puzzle teorico. Tre partiti assimilabili a questo tipo – Lega Nord; Forza Italia; Italia dei Valori – si sono trovati a fronteggiare eventi da cui sono emersi significativi presupposti per le dimissioni dei loro leader. Ciononostante, solo la Lega è stata in grado di deviare dagli esiti previsti dalla teoria e di compiere un passo decisivo verso la propria istituzionalizzazione, rimuovendo il padre fondatore e mantenendo un potenziale di ricatto a livello nazionale. Il presente articolo affronta la questione e fornisce una soluzione al puzzle. In particolare, esso mostra come un cambio di approccio capace di prendere in considerazione sia i fattori partitici sia gli eventi critici sia necessario al fine di spiegare pienamente la differenza negli esiti e, più in generale, il mutamento partitico.

Keywords

party institutionalisationpersonalist leadershipItalian party systemeventsForza ItaliaLega Nord
Type
Articles
Information
Modern Italy , Volume 20 , Issue 4 , November 2015 , pp. 395 - 410
Copyright
Copyright © 2015 Association for the study of Modern Italy 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Acemoglu, Daron, and Robinson, James A. 2012. Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty. New York: Crown Business.Google Scholar
Albertazzi, Daniele, McDonnell, Duncan, and Newell, James L. 2011. “Di Lotta E Di Governo: The Lega Nord and Rifondazione Comunista in Office.” Party Politics 17 (4): 471–487. doi: 10.1177/1354068811400523.Google Scholar
Arter, David, and Kestilä-Kekkonen, Elina. 2014. “Measuring the Extent of Party Institutionalisation: The Case of a Populist Entrepreneur Party.” West European Politics 37 (5): 932–956. doi:10.1080/01402382.2014.911486.Google Scholar
Berlinski, Samuel, Dewan, Torun, and Dowding, Keith. 2012. Accounting for Ministers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Biorcio, Roberto. 2010. La Rivincita del Nord. La Lega dalla contestazione al governo. Roma-Bari: Laterza.Google Scholar
Bolleyer, Nicole, and Bytzek, Evelyn. 2013. “Origins of Party Formation and New Party Success in Advanced Democracies.” European Journal of Political Research 52 (6): 773–796. doi: 10.1111/1475-6765.12013.Google Scholar
Bordignon, Fabio. 2014. Il partito del capo. Da Berlusconi a Renzi. Sant'Arcangelo di. Romagna: Maggioli.Google Scholar
Casal Bértoa, Fernando. 2012. “Parties, Regime and Cleavages: Explaining Party System Institutionalisation in East Central Europe.” East European Politics 28 (4): 452–472. doi:10.1080/21599165.2012.720569.Google Scholar
Cento Bull, Anna. 2013. “Quando la magia svanisce: Bossi perde la leadership, la Lega perde attrattiva.” In Politica in Italia. I fatti dell'anno e le interpretazioni, edited by Aldo Di Virgilio, A and Radaelli, Claudio M., 101–117. Bologna: Il Mulino.Google Scholar
Chiapponi, Flavio. 2010. “Populismo, Leadership E Carisma.” Trasgressioni 51: 91–120.Google Scholar
Chiapponi, Flavio. 2013. “Italy: Varieties of Populist Leadership.” In Contemporary Populism: A Controversial Concept and Its Diverse Forms, edited by Gherghina, Sergiu, Miscoiu, Sergiu and Soare, Sorina, 294–315. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars.Google Scholar
Collier, Ruth B., and Collier, David. 1991. Shaping the Political Arena: Critical Junctures, the Labor Movement, and Regime Dynamics in Latin America. Princeton: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Di Sotto, Nicoletta. 2014. Tra Protesta e governo. Successi, trasformazioni e crisi della Lega Nord. Napoli: Editoriale scientifica.Google Scholar
Fink-Hafner, Danica, and Krašovec, Alenca. 2013. “Factors Affecting the Long-term Success of New Parliamentary Parties: Findings in a Post-communist Context.” Romanian Journal of Political Science 13 (2): 40–68.Google Scholar
Gunther, Richard, and Diamond, Larry. 2003. “Species of Political Parties. a New Typology.” Party Politics 9 (2): 167–199. doi:10.1177/13540688030092003.Google Scholar
Harmel, Robert, and Svåsand, Lars. 1993. “Party Leadership and Party Institutionalisation: Three Phases of Development.” West European Politics 16 (2): 67–88. doi:10.1080/01402389308424961.Google Scholar
Huntington, Samuel. 1968. Political Order in Changing Societies. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Huysseune, Michel. 2010. “A Eurosceptic Vision in a Europhile Country: The Case of the Lega Nord.” Modern Italy 15 (1): 63–75. doi:10.1080/13532940903477880.Google Scholar
Ieraci, Giuseppe. 2014. “Il Sistema dei partiti in italia dal secondo dopoguerra ai giorni nostri.” In La transizione politica italiana. Da Tangentopoli a oggi, edited by Almagisti, Marco, Lanzalaco, Lucaand, Verzichelli, Luca, 83–107. Roma: Carocci.Google Scholar
Ignazi, Piero. 1996. “The Crisis of Parties and the Rise of New Political Parties.” Party Politics 2 (4): 549–566. doi:10.1177/1354068896002004007.Google Scholar
Ignazi, Piero. 2012. Forza senza legittimità. Il vicolo cieco dei partiti. Roma-Bari: Laterza.Google Scholar
Ignazi, Piero. 2014. Vent'anni dopo. La parabola del berlusconismo. Bologna: Il Mulino.Google Scholar
Ignazi, Piero, Bardi, Luciano, and Massari, Oreste. 2010. “Party Organisational Change in Italy (1991–2006).” Modern Italy 15 (2): 197–216. doi:10.1080/13532940903573621.Google Scholar
Katz, Richard, and Mair, Peter. 2014. “The Evolution of Party Organizations in Europe: The Three Faces of Party Organization.” In On Parties, Party Systems and Democracy. Selected Writings of Peter Mair, edited by van Biezen, Ingrid, 349–370. Colchester: ECPR Press.Google Scholar
Kostadinova, Tatiana, and Levitt, Barry. 2014. “Toward a Theory of Personalist Parties: Concept Formation and Theory Building.” Politics & Policy 42 (4): 490–512. doi:10.1111/polp.12081.Google Scholar
Kuenzi, Michelle, and Lambright, Gina. 2001. “Party System Institutionalization in 30 African Countries.” Party Politics 7 (4): 437–468. doi:10.1177/1354068801007004003.Google Scholar
Lupia, Arthur, and Strøm, Kaare. 1995. “Coalition Termination and the Strategic Timing of Parliamentary Elections.” The American Political Science Review 89 (3): 648–665. doi:10.2307/2082980.Google Scholar
Mariotti, Claudia. 2011. “Berlusconism: Some Empirical Research.” Bulletin of Italian Politics 3 (1): 35–57.Google Scholar
Mainwaring, Scott, and Scully, Timothy R., eds. 1995. Building Democratic Institutions: Party Systems in Latin America. Stanford: Stanford University Press.Google Scholar
McDonnell, Duncan. 2006. “A Weekend in Padania: Regionalist Populism and the Lega Nord.” Politics 26 (2): 126–132. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9256.2006.00259.x.Google Scholar
McDonnell, Duncan. 2013. “Silvio Berlusconi's Personal Parties: From Forza Italia to the Popolo Della Libertà.” Political Studies 61 (S1): 217–233. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9248.2012.01007.x.Google Scholar
McDonnell, Duncan. 2015. “Populist Leaders and Coterie Charisma.” Political Studies, Early View. doi: 10.1111/1467-9248.12195.Google Scholar
Mudde, Cas. 2007. Populist Radical Right Parties in Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Panebianco, Angelo. 1988. Political Parties: Organization and Power. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Paolucci, Caterina. 2008. “From Democrazia Cristiana to Forza Italia and the Popolo Della Libertà: Partisan Change in Italy.” Modern Italy 13 (4): 465–480. doi:10.1080/13532940802367737.Google Scholar
Pappas, Takis S. 2011. “Political Charisma Revisited, and Reclaimed for Political Science.” EUI Working Papers RSCAS 2011/60.Google Scholar
Passarelli, Gianluca, and Tuorto, Dario. 2012. Lega & Padania. Storie e luoghi delle camicie verdi. Bologna: Il Mulino.Google Scholar
Passarelli, Gianluca, and Tuorto, Dario. 2014. “Lega Nord: il <no Euro> per sopravvivere”. In L'Italia e l'Europa al bivio delle riforme. Le elezioni europee e amministrative del 25 maggio 2014, edited by Valbruzzi, Marco and Vignati, Rinaldo, 147–155. Istituto Carlo Cattaneo: Bologna.+per+sopravvivere”.+In+L'Italia+e+l'Europa+al+bivio+delle+riforme.+Le+elezioni+europee+e+amministrative+del+25+maggio+2014,+edited+by+Valbruzzi,+Marco+and+Vignati,+Rinaldo,+147–155.+Istituto+Carlo+Cattaneo:+Bologna.>Google Scholar
Pasquino, Gianfranco. 2014a. “Italy: The Triumph of Personalist Parties.” Politics & Policy 42 (4): 548–566. doi:10.1111/polp.12079.Google Scholar
Pasquino, Gianfranco. 2014b. “The 2013 Elections and the Italian Party System.” Journal of Modern Italian Studies 19 (4): 424–437. doi:10.1080/1354571X.2014.929826.Google Scholar
Pedahzur, Ami, and Brichta, Avraham. 2002. “The Institutionalization of Extreme Right-wing Charismatic Parties: A Paradox?” Party Politics 8 (1): 31–49. doi:10.1177/1354068802008001002.Google Scholar
Pisicchio, Pino. 2008. Italia dei Valori. Il post-partito. Soveria Mannelli: Rubbettino.Google Scholar
Poli, Emanuela. 2001. Forza Italia. Strutture, leadership e radicamento territoriale. Bologna: Il Mulino.Google Scholar
Randall, Vicky, and Svåsand, Lars. 2002. “Party Institutionalization in New Democracies.” Party Politics 8 (1): 5–29. doi:10.1177/1354068802008001001.Google Scholar
Raniolo, Francesco. 2000. I partiti conservatori in Europa occidentale. Bologna: Il Mulino.Google Scholar
Raniolo, Francesco. 2006. “Forza Italia: A Leader with a Party.” South European Society and Politics 11 (3-4): 439–455. doi:10.1080/13608740600856470.Google Scholar
Sandri, Giulia, Seddone, Antonella, and Venturino, Fulvio. 2013. “The Selection of Party Leaders in Italy, 1989–2012.” In The Selection of Political Party Leaders in Contemporary Parliamentary Democracies. a Comparative Study, edited by Pilet, Jean-Benoit and Cross, William P., 93–107. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Sartori, Giovanni. 1976. Parties and Party Systems. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Stockton, Hans. 2001. “Political Parties, Party Systems, and Democracy in East Asia: Lessons from Latin America.” Comparative Political Studies 34 (1): 94–119. doi:10.1177/0010414001034001004.Google Scholar
Tarchi, Marco. 1998. “The Lega Nord.” In Regionalist Parties in Western Europe, edited by de Winter, Lieven and Türsan, Huri, 143–157. London and New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Tronconi, Filippo. 2015. Beppe Grillo's Five Star Movement Organisation, Communication and Ideology. Aldershot: Ashgate.Google Scholar