Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA in Government and Politics

Department

Government and Politics

First Advisor

Fred Cocozzelli

Second Advisor

Frank P. Le Veness

Abstract

This research examines the political rise of Silvio Berlusconi in the context of Italy’s transition from the First to the Second Republic, analyzing how his populist rhetoric, media dominance, and coalition-building strategies enabled his electoral success in 1994. The research utilizes a behavioralist approach and the framework of political opportunity structures to explore how Berlusconi’s tactics intersected with broader structural transformations, including economic instability, institutional collapse, and shifting societal norms. The researcher conducted the study in Rome, Italy, and it draws on historical and political data from the early 1990s, as well as more contemporary research, analyzing electoral shifts, economic reports, and media content. Participants in this research include voters and political actors of the time, examined through existing survey data, electoral outcomes, and public discourse. Through this approach, the research was able to gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influenced voter behavior and the political landscape in Italy. Methodologically, this research employs qualitative content analysis of media narratives, political speeches, and policy documents, combined with a comparative historical approach to assess Italy’s political and economic transitions. It also integrates secondary sources, including scholarly literature on populism, democratic transitions, and media influence in politics. The study further applies a political behavior analysis to evaluate how Berlusconi’s messaging resonated with different voter demographics and how it capitalized on structural weaknesses within Italy’s democratic institutions. The findings indicate that Berlusconi’s success was not solely the result of his personal charisma or strategic maneuvering but rather the product of the confluence of economic, political, and societal crises that reshaped Italy’s democratic landscape. His use of media as a political tool, his appeal to masculinity and nationalism, and his coalition-building efforts highlight the broader transformation of Italian politics into a more personality-driven and media-centered model. Ultimately, this study contributes to understanding populist leadership, media influence in democracy, and the structural conditions that enable political outsiders to rise to power. Berlusconi’s legacy, while marked by controversy, is a testament to the enduring impact of media-driven politics and the vulnerabilities of democratic institutions in times of systemic turbulence.

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