The effects of global crises on the electoral behaviour of Italian voters in 2022 are the topic addressed in this chapter. In a completely changed political context compared to the general election of 2018, the widespread economic, cultural and political malaise deriving from global dynamics still influenced people’s choices and shaped political compe-tition. Feelings of anxiety and concern strongly affected an undecided and bewildered electorate in the run-up to the election—an election that rewarded the only opposition party to the incumbent government led by Mario Draghi. Insecurity arising from the cultural face of globalisa-tion was once again a crucial driver of support for the right-wing parties. Supporters of Meloni’s FdI and its allies shared a rejection of immigration and broad support for closed-borders policies. Among their opponents, the M5s was once again a catalyst for expressions of economic and demo-cratic malaise. In contrast, the PD and Az-IV became the ‘ideal’ political outlets for the winners of globalisation. In 2022, Italians were further divided over the controversial decisions arising from the war against the pandemic and the war on the Eastern borders of Europe. Their effects, however, seem to have partly aligned with pre-existing divisions.
New and Old (Global) Cleavages, Crises and Wars
F BORDIGNON;L CECCARINI
2023
Abstract
The effects of global crises on the electoral behaviour of Italian voters in 2022 are the topic addressed in this chapter. In a completely changed political context compared to the general election of 2018, the widespread economic, cultural and political malaise deriving from global dynamics still influenced people’s choices and shaped political compe-tition. Feelings of anxiety and concern strongly affected an undecided and bewildered electorate in the run-up to the election—an election that rewarded the only opposition party to the incumbent government led by Mario Draghi. Insecurity arising from the cultural face of globalisa-tion was once again a crucial driver of support for the right-wing parties. Supporters of Meloni’s FdI and its allies shared a rejection of immigration and broad support for closed-borders policies. Among their opponents, the M5s was once again a catalyst for expressions of economic and demo-cratic malaise. In contrast, the PD and Az-IV became the ‘ideal’ political outlets for the winners of globalisation. In 2022, Italians were further divided over the controversial decisions arising from the war against the pandemic and the war on the Eastern borders of Europe. Their effects, however, seem to have partly aligned with pre-existing divisions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
