📣🏆We are honoured to be awarded the PSA Specialist Group of the Year 2025/26! Many thanks to the jury at @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social for their trust, our convenors and executive committee members for their work, and all our members for their active contribution!

This is now happening, as the Italian PM denies use of the Sigonella military base in Sicily to US forces involved in the war. Expect more in days and weeks to come.

This is now happening, as the Italian PM denies use of the Sigonella military base in Sicily to US forces involved in the war. Expect more in days and weeks to come.

A million thanks to our members and executive committee for having made this possible... Special mention to co-convenor @dbonansinga.bsky.social for her energy, enthusiasm and ideas!

Coming up soon...

Monday 15:30. Panel “Visuals in populist and reactionary politics” (St Catherine’s – Aramugam 1.1) with @populismpsa.bsky.social @dbonansinga.bsky.social Voutyras Veneti Poulakidakos @lauramontecchio.bsky.social Griffini @theoaiolfi.bsky.social @ngellwitzki.bsky.social Scanlon

Monday 13:30. Panel "Brothers of Italy and the illiberal populist temptation in Western Europe" (St Catherine's - Aramugam 1.1) with Mazzoleni @dbonansinga.bsky.social @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social Griffini @carloruzza.bsky.social Loner Bulli Dallara

09:30 Panel "Uneven Italy: Trust, Rights, and Governance in the 21st Century" (St Catherine's - Aramugam 1.1) with @dbonansinga.bsky.social Ceccarini @gsal.bsky.social Scalera @gddandrea.bsky.social @danieljschulte.bsky.social

In September 2027 Meloni becomes the longest serving PM (at the head of the same government) in Italy's postwar history. In spring 2028 Parliamentarians gain the right to a pension, having served 4 & a half years. Are we going to see early elections in Italy, triggered by govt forces?

Eyes on Rome: Giorgia Meloni is entering difficult weeks, as the referendum results dents her image as a "winner".

With inflation + energy rising, the public is drawing a straight line to Trump’s war. Meloni’s pragmatic pivot away from him will the be story of the next weeks—leaving Salvini in awkward position of having to nuance his support, too. Domestic pockets matter more than transatlantic bromances. ⛽️📉

Eyes on Rome: Giorgia Meloni is entering difficult weeks, as the referendum results dents her image as a "winner".

Interested in this topic? www.france24.com/en/europe/20...

"To truly liberate the British people, we must embrace the sovereign freedom of offshore crypto-whales." ​Looking forward to Nigel making this exact argument with a straight face and a pint in his hand.

"To truly liberate the British people, we must embrace the sovereign freedom of offshore crypto-whales." ​Looking forward to Nigel making this exact argument with a straight face and a pint in his hand.

The NZ Herald is reporting on Meloni's stinging defeat in Italy’s Constitutional referendum, with comments by me. After years of winning, her image as a political juggernaut is officially hammered. www.nzherald.co.nz/world/justic...

DEADLINE EXTENDED! ✍ 🚨 You now have until this Friday 27 March to submit your abstract for our conference in May! Details below👇

The NZ Herald is reporting on Meloni's stinging defeat in Italy’s Constitutional referendum, with comments by me. After years of winning, her image as a political juggernaut is officially hammered. www.nzherald.co.nz/world/justic...

France 24 on the result of Italy's Constitutional referendum and what's next for Giorgia Meloni. With comments by observers of Italian politics, including yours truly f24.my/BoqF

France 24 on the result of Italy's Constitutional referendum and what's next for Giorgia Meloni. With comments by observers of Italian politics, including yours truly f24.my/BoqF

It appears that the electorate has rejected Meloni's Constitutional changes concerning the functioning of the Justice System. Impact on the stability of her govt = Zero. Her allies have nowhere to go (and they campaigned for YES vote, too) Impact on Italy's foreign and security policies = Zero.

It appears that the electorate has rejected Meloni's Constitutional changes concerning the functioning of the Justice System. Impact on the stability of her govt = Zero. Her allies have nowhere to go (and they campaigned for YES vote, too) Impact on Italy's foreign and security policies = Zero.

Very high turnout so far, possible to vote until 11pm, and again for part of the day tomorrow. Good sign for Meloni & the supporters of a YES vote. If she wins this, next steps will be changing electoral law & introducing direct election of the PM (the latter again a Constitutional reform)

Very high turnout so far, possible to vote until 11pm, and again for part of the day tomorrow. Good sign for Meloni & the supporters of a YES vote. If she wins this, next steps will be changing electoral law & introducing direct election of the PM (the latter again a Constitutional reform)

Meloni's main worry now will be a low turnout. It has been very hard to mobilise voters in recent referendums (hence the hyperbolic tones of the YES campaign). Her opponents have more of an incentive to come out, just to hit the govt with a stick for once.

High stakes referendum in Italy this weekend on the justice system, with considerable repercussions for the government. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

High stakes referendum in Italy this weekend on the justice system, with considerable repercussions for the government. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

Very easy prediction right now, given Trump's behaviour and fresh threats to EU allies: Europe's radical right was never united — but the gulf between its pro-Trump/Putin and pro-EU/Ukraine wings is about to get a whole lot wider in weeks to come.

Very easy prediction right now, given Trump's behaviour and fresh threats to EU allies: Europe's radical right was never united — but the gulf between its pro-Trump/Putin and pro-EU/Ukraine wings is about to get a whole lot wider in weeks to come.

Umberto Bossi, founder of the Lombard League (later Northern League), passed away yesterday. He remained a vocal critic of Matteo Salvini’s transformation of the party—from its regionalist, federalist roots into a broader nationalist quasi-MAGA organisation—right to the very end.

Umberto Bossi, founder of the Lombard League (later Northern League), passed away yesterday. He remained a vocal critic of Matteo Salvini’s transformation of the party—from its regionalist, federalist roots into a broader nationalist quasi-MAGA organisation—right to the very end.

CfP "Italy under Giorgia Meloni: A ‘Vanguard’ in the Management of Migration and Security Challenges?" (LSE, 15 May) Submission deadline: 27 March 2026

"a vote for Labour means we would rejoin the European Union." Oh the firm belief by some British rejoiners that the EU would welcome yo-yo Britain back with open arms a decade after it decided to leave... www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

"a vote for Labour means we would rejoin the European Union." Oh the firm belief by some British rejoiners that the EU would welcome yo-yo Britain back with open arms a decade after it decided to leave... www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Notice the red shirt, while good old Starmer is still chasing Reform UK votes... A coincidence, I am sure, and yet...

First Giorgia Meloni refusing to help police the Strait of Hormuz and now this... Whatever happened to the "Populist International"...

First Giorgia Meloni refusing to help police the Strait of Hormuz and now this... Whatever happened to the "Populist International"...

One thing is to agree with Trump on the "traditional family" & migration in a press conference, and quite another to send the navy to the Strait of Hormuz... It is a "no" from Meloni to Trump's generous offer.

One thing is to agree with Trump on the "traditional family" & migration in a press conference, and quite another to send the navy to the Strait of Hormuz... It is a "no" from Meloni to Trump's generous offer.

Deputy PM Tajani (Forza Italia) says he's in favour of keeping sanctions on Russian oil right now, deputy PM Salvini (Lega) says the opposite. Impact on Meloni's initiatives within EU: zero.

Deputy PM Tajani (Forza Italia) says he's in favour of keeping sanctions on Russian oil right now, deputy PM Salvini (Lega) says the opposite. Impact on Meloni's initiatives within EU: zero.

After the folly of Greenland, now a war against Iran that is very unpopular in Italy. So Meloni and Trump drift apart. A good detailed explanation of recent events here:

After the folly of Greenland, now a war against Iran that is very unpopular in Italy. So Meloni and Trump drift apart. A good detailed explanation of recent events here:

There are plenty of distractions to sift through right now, but Giorgia Meloni’s latest performance on the global stage is truly something else. ​Claiming to "neither support nor condemn" the US/Israeli strikes on Iran isn't just a tightrope walk...

There are plenty of distractions to sift through right now, but Giorgia Meloni’s latest performance on the global stage is truly something else. ​Claiming to "neither support nor condemn" the US/Israeli strikes on Iran isn't just a tightrope walk...

Sad but true.

Aligning to cut red tape and facilitate trade. Now THAT'S AN IDEA

Come and join our workshop on Meloni's impact on the management of migration in the EU, co-organised by @lse-ei.bsky.social and @psa-italian.bsky.social, with financial support by @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social! PhD students & ECRs can apply for travel grants up to £110 to cover travel/accommodation.

Come and join our workshop on Meloni's impact on the management of migration in the EU, co-organised by @lse-ei.bsky.social and @psa-italian.bsky.social, with financial support by @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social! PhD students & ECRs can apply for travel grants up to £110 to cover travel/accommodation.

Italy's Minister of Defence to Parliament today: "The US attack is outside the law. We are on the brink of the abyss". He would not make statements like this without clearing them with Meloni first. As simple as.