Today in Focus How Giorgia Meloni became Europe’s favourite far-right leader
Oct 14, 2024
Alexander Stille, a Columbia University journalism professor and expert on Giorgia Meloni, dives into the intriguing world of Italy's first far-right female prime minister. He unpacks how Meloni transformed from a young far-right activist to a significant political player, navigating Italy's turbulent landscape. The conversation reveals her strategic balancing act between hardline views and European respectability, while also addressing the rise in far-right ideologies and their implications for LGBTQ rights in Italy.
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Hobbit Camp
- In the early 1990s, a group of young people in Italy, including Giorgia Meloni, gathered at a festival dressed as hobbits.
- They saw themselves as defenders against modern-day Mordor, reflecting their far-right political views.
Counter-Counterculture
- Giorgia Meloni joined a far-right party as a teenager, a counter-cultural move in left-leaning 1980s/90s Italy.
- This demonstrates her contrarian nature and willingness to challenge prevailing norms.
Crisis and Neo-fascism
- Italy's political landscape in 1992 was marked by corruption scandals, leading to public anger and distrust.
- This context contributed to Meloni's turn to neo-fascism as an alternative to the failing establishment.
