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The Long‐Term Effects of Populism on Foreign Policy: Berlusconi's Legacy and Its Impact on Italy's Approach to the EU and International Politics

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  • Sandra Destradi
  • Emidio Diodato

Abstract

What are the long‐term effects of populism on foreign policy? This aspect has not been addressed yet by the burgeoning literature on the international consequences of populism. In this contribution, we hypothesise that the two distinctive features of populist foreign policy‐making, mobilisation/politicisation and personalisation/centralisation, leave a long‐term imprint on foreign policy. We carry out a first plausibility probe of our hypotheses by addressing the legacy of Silvio Berlusconi on Italy's foreign policy. To that end, we trace elements of continuity and change in subsequent populist and non‐populist governments. We find that the politicisation of foreign policy that was distinctively promoted by Berlusconi has remained a feature of Italian foreign policy across all successive governments. This concerns especially Italy's approach to the European Union and migration policies. Moreover, the personalisation of politics initiated by Berlusconi and the trend towards a strengthening of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers were taken over by successive Italian governments, including by technocratic ones.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandra Destradi & Emidio Diodato, 2026. "The Long‐Term Effects of Populism on Foreign Policy: Berlusconi's Legacy and Its Impact on Italy's Approach to the EU and International Politics," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 64(2), pages 720-741, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jcmkts:v:64:y:2026:i:2:p:720-741
    DOI: 10.1111/jcms.70033
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