Populism as a Political Style: UK, Italy and France

Formosa, Ludovica

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Populism as a Political Style: UK, Italy and France

Formosa, Ludovica

Abstract

This thesis first of all offers a brief review of the main theories about Populism criticized by Moffitt and Tormey. Moreover, Benjamin Moffitt and Simon Tormey will build upon the weaknesses of these dominant theories in order to present their alternative model of Populism as a Political Style. My goal is to validate Moffitt and Tormey’s model by applying it to three case studies (UK, Italy and France) in order to conceptualise the expression of the phenomenon, and eventually make predictions for Europe. The question I will systematically seek to answer is how populism as a political style has expressed itself in the UK, Italy and France. Applying the chosen model to my three case studies will lead us to three hypothetical options regarding the expression of populism. First, this expression of Populism as a Political Style in the UK, Italy and France, varies according to the socio-political context in which it emerges. Second, the expression of the Populist phenomenon creates tensions towards the European community. Third, the expression of populism creates tensions within the country, resulting in social/domestic instability. I will conclude that Populism itself is a phenomenon that evolves through time, therefore the definition of the term may also vary through time. In this current context, the model is efficient today although it might be so in the future.