Francesco Marone

Populism and Euroscepticism in the Italian Five Star Movement

The Italian Five Star Movement (FSM) is one of the most interesting political phenomena in contemporary Europe. On one hand, this populist anti-establishment party has expressed a critical, albeit ambiguous, position on the European Union and the euro. In particular, the FSM’s euroscepticism became apparent during the 2014 European Parliament (EP) elections. On the other hand, analysis of the voting behaviour in the EP shows that the Movement differs from the ‘hard’ eurosceptic UKIP, its main ally in the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) grouping, and is often closer to the pro-EU parties, in particular the Green group. Overall, the FSM’s euroscepticism is more strategic than ideological.

The rise of insurrectionary anarchist terrorism in Italy

Since the mid-1980s, Italian insurrectionary anarchists have been responsible for dozens of attacks both within Italy and abroad. For more than a decade, the prevailing tactics were small-scale acts of vandalism, sabotage and arson. However, since the late 1990s, insurrectionary anarchist militants have increasingly used more dangerous methods such as bombings and assaults. Today, insurrectionary anarchist violence is generally regarded as the most dangerous form of domestic non-jihadist terrorism in Italy. Furthermore, in many respects, Italy represents the birthplace of a threat that has spread in many countries. The paper aims to examine the rise of insurrectionary anarchist terrorism in Italy, a neglected topic in the literature. The text focuses on four aspects. First, it traces the ideological roots of this extremist tendency. Second, it examines the escalation of violence in the twenty-first century, paying particular attention to the most important entity, the Informal Anarchist Federation, FAI, a loose network that emerged in 2003. The discussion is based on an original data set of 50 acts of violence claimed by the Italian FAI from 2003 to 2014. Third, it explores the peculiar organisational structure of the FAI. Finally, it analyses the repertoire of action and the strategies of target selection.

Ties that Bind: Dynamics of Group Radicalisation in Italy’s Jihadists Headed for Syria and Iraq

Abstract In recent years, thousands of radical citizens and residents from Europe have joined the so-called ‘Islamic State’ (IS) in Syria and Iraq. Unlike other European countries, Italy has traditionally been characterised by the prevalence of individual pathways of radicalisation over group mechanisms. Nevertheless, recent cases show interesting indications of the increasing role of small groups based on pre-existing personal relationships (family and friendship ties). This kind of bond can be particularly salient for IS, a jihadist “proto-state”, which needs not only ‘foreign fighters’ but also new ‘citizens’ of different sexes and ages, including entire families.

Book Review: Erik Jones and Gianfranco Pasquino (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Italian PoliticsThe Oxford Handbook of Italian Politics by JonesErikPasquinoGianfranco (eds). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016. 760pp., £95.00 (h/b), ISBN 9780199669745

dimensions of the phenomenon, with clear practical policy implications for specific countries. For instance, Mabbett et al. argue in chapter 6 that European rules mandating the inclusion of ‘bad banks’ in government budgets might lead governments to ignore banking problems rather than addressing them. This interpretation may explain what happened in December 2016 with the Portuguese bank Banif, whose resolution was delayed to accommodate national political interests and finally led to a deficit exceeding 3% of gross domestic product (GDP), thus bringing the country under the ‘corrective arm’ through an excessive deficit procedure.

Book Review: Petter Nesser, Islamist Terrorism in Europe: A HistoryIslamist Terrorism in Europe: A History by NesserPetter. London: C. Hurst & Co., 2015. 256pp., £20.00 (h/b), ISBN 9781849044059

As is well-known, Europe has become a critical target of jihadist terrorism. Surprisingly enough, the academic literature on the evolution of this threat across the continent is scarce. Against this backdrop, Islamist Terrorism in Europe: A History by Petter Nesser, a prominent expert in the field trained in Arabic, fills a vital gap in the literature. This timely book provides an authoritative, detailed account of the historical evolution of jihadist terrorism in Western Europe, from the hijack by the Algerian GIA (Groupe Islamique Armé) of an Air France jet in December 1994 to the assault on the offices of Charlie Hebdo in January 2015. The book is based on media sources, expert interviews, judicial papers, jihadist primary source material and existing studies (p. 19). It builds on an original open source chronology of jihadist terrorist plots in Western Europe from 1994 to September 2015, available in an electronic appendix (http://www.hurstpublishers. com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IslamistTerrorism-in-Europe-Appendix.pdf). Nesser’s meticulous analysis focuses on actors and groups. It is not very interested in ‘societal explanations’ at a macro level. In particular, the book emphasises the relevance of the interaction between Europe-based cells and transnational networks emanating from the 1980s Afghan Jihad. A crucial role in this connection is played by jihadist ‘entrepreneurs’, usually combat veterans, who build cells and provide them with a rationale and a purpose. In this sense, according to Nesser, ‘the jihadi threat to Europe is more organized than is commonly assumed’ (p. 2). The volume is divided into nine well-written chapters. After the Introduction, chapter 1 examines the emergence of jihadism in Europe in the early 1990s and traces its origin to the ‘Afghan-Arab’ foreign fighter movement. Chapter 2 offers an interesting overview of trends in the scope and modus operandi of jihadist terrorism in Europe. Chapters 3–9 investigate in chronological order a range of planned or executed terrorist attacks over the 20-year period throughout the region, carefully illustrating continuities and discontinuities in the threat. The volume examines only a selected number of terrorist plots in different countries (including France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, the UK and Denmark). However, this relative limitation in terms of comprehensiveness is outweighed by a remarkable depth of analysis. Overall, Islamist Terrorism in Europe: A History is a well-researched, original, relevant book. It represents a valuable contribution to terrorism studies in general and an essential work of reference for the analysis of jihadist violence in Europe.

The Italian Way of Counterterrorism: From a Consolidated Experience to an Integrated Approach

Italy has a long history of struggle against terrorism. At least since the mid-1970s, it has developed a national counterterrorism (CT) strategy, combining a range of different tactics and tools. Over the decades Italy has had to respond to many forms of violence: ethno-nationalist, right-wing, left-wing, anarchist, and jihadist. This chapter outlines the evolution of Italy’s CT policy, from a social science perspective. It distinguishes two major phases. In the first phase (from the 1960s to the 1980s), during the time of the so-called First Republic at the national level and the Cold War at the international level, the country dealt with separatist violent incidents and, above all, with a long and intense campaign of right-wing and left-wing terrorism, during the Anni di piombo (Years of Lead). In the second phase (from the 1990s to the present day), at the time of the Second Republic and in the post-Cold War era, Italy has had to face new challenges, especially from jihadist extremism.

Book Review: Ludovica Marchi Balossi-Restelli, Richard G. Whitman and Geoffrey Edwards (eds)., Italy’s Foreign Policy in the Twenty-First Century: A Contested Nature?Italy’s Foreign Policy in the Twenty-First Century: A Contested Nature? by Balossi-RestelliLudovica MarchiWhitmanRichard G.EdwardsGeoffrey (eds). Abingdon: Routledge, 2014. 264pp., £90.00 (h/b), ISBN 978-0415538343

in writing ‘history from below’, that is, by giving voice to those who had none (e.g. the working class; p. 17). The writings included in this volume have until now been scattered, unpublished or difficult to retrieve (p. 30), and Wilson has rendered us a great service by presenting them all together. Importantly, the essays in the volume illuminate how seemingly irreconcilable gaps can be bridged: for example, the gap between intellectuals and society or the gap between political science (academia) and actual politics. The volume offers the reader an examination and analysis of a host of issues that not only regularly concern (radical) leftist political movements but which also interest political scientists. For example, one essay focuses on what might be called the ‘Stalinisation’ of Marxist political thought and practice; other essays, indicative of Thompson’s grassroots politics and his ‘bottom up’ approach to history, are topical for contemporary concerns such as the dominance of political elites, the danger inherent in nuclear weapons, NATO militarism and so on. These topics are especially relevant in light of the recent economic crisis and the neoliberal dead-end approach offered as a solution by the European elites. The essays are also important in relation to the Left movement worldwide, since with the dissolution of the socialist bloc, political parties of the Left seem unable to meet the concerns and anxieties of many people. While written decades ago, the essays in this volume offer new light on these topics. The book provides insight on Marxist questions regarding left political organisation, political theory and practice and how these have evolved over time. It is a welcome addition to the field of radical left politics and will prove invaluable to students and scholars with an interest in left party politics and political activism. Overall, the volume is a tribute to one of Thompson’s major concerns: freedom of conscience.