Rise of Populism and the Five Star Movement Model: An Italian Case Study

Abstract

This chapter will explore the rise of the Five Star Movement in Italy, with a focus on the challenges that it poses from the perspective of constitutional law. In such a model, the use of the Internet as a channel for bridging the gap between voters and the ‘political establishment’ has played a pivotal role. Unlike other parties which likewise have largely resorted to social media as a campaigning tool, the Five Star Movement has from the beginning considered the Internet as a means to reshape the essence of political representation in that of delegation and to allow direct democracy to flourish.