A “stylistic anti-populism”: an analysis of the Sardine movement’s opposition to Matteo Salvini in Italy

Abstract

This article analyzes the Italian movement of the Sardines that emerged in November 2019 as a reaction to the Lega, the radical right populist party led by Matteo Salvini. On the one hand, it shows that the movement was born out of the incapacity of Italian political parties to articulate an anti-populist response. On the other hand, it demonstrates that the movement was an expression of stylistic anti-populism. As such, the role of the Sardines was to promote a respectful and kind language, the physical mobilization of citizens that contrasted with Salvini's massive use of social media and defend the idea that politics is a complex issue.

Populism and emotions: a comparative study using Machine Learning

“…Italy appears as a paradigmatic case to such a study on populist communication, as it offers a great variety of populisms throughout its history – (i.e. left wing and right wing, even centrist; ‘fourth types’, Biancalana, 2020; Verzichelli and Castaldo, 2020) and has been considered a ‘laboratory’ and ‘showcase’ of populism, for its success and endurance (Albertazzi et al ., 2018; Hamdaoui, 2021) 7 .…”

“…leaders' 6 Also Wirz (2018), stresses that 'an important element of populist anger appeals is the attribution of blame to the elite or out-groups, as anger is elicited when an adverse situation is caused by others (Ellsworth and Smith, 1988) '. 7 Even the mainstream, center-left Partito Democratico (PD) had a populist phase at the time Matteo Renzi was Prime Minister and Secretary of the party (Hamdaoui, 2021). More recently, in the 2018 national elections, the 5SMafter its astonishing electoral debut in 2013 (winning 27% of electoral votes)obtained 32% of the votes.…”

“… 7 Even the mainstream, center-left Partito Democratico (PD) had a populist phase at the time Matteo Renzi was Prime Minister and Secretary of the party (Hamdaoui, 2021). More recently, in the 2018 national elections, the 5SM – after its astonishing electoral debut in 2013 (winning 27% of electoral votes) – obtained 32% of the votes.…”

Movement versus Party: The Electoral Effects of Anti-Far Right Protests in Greece

“…For example, the 2019 Sardines movement that sprung up in Bologna and spread throughout Italy managed to gather large crowds to counter the politics of the Lega Nord. The initial aim of the founders was to gather as many people as possible in major public squares to protest the anti-immigrant appeals of the Lega (Hamdaoui 2022).…”

Sociología y política de las «Sardinas». Un caso de estudio, entre comunicación y lógica participativa, de un movimiento social posmoderno en Italia

“…Así que, identificar la modalidad fundamental de autorrepresentación de las Sardinas ha sido un elemento estilístico, al mismo tiempo "en contra" y "a favor" del registro antipopulista (De Blasio y Caruso, 2021). Un "antipopulismo estilístico" (Hamdaoui, 2021) que pretendía trasponer, sobre la base del discurso público, un lenguaje político más institucional (y pro-institucional) como reacción a ese estilo comunicativo y registro lingüístico. Esto, como lo documenta una amplia literatura, constituye una de las (no muchas) connotaciones estructurales y unificadoras de las formaciones populistas (Mudde y Rovira Kaltwasser, 2017).…”