Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Connective Capability of Italian Political Parties

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Political Party Funding and Private Donations in Italy

Part of the book series: Interest Groups, Advocacy and Democracy Series ((IGAD))

  • 85 Accesses

Abstract

According to the cartel party model, political parties that are primarily state funded appear to weaken their connection with civil society and lose grassroots support. The Italian case seems to support the first part of this assertion: political parties in Italy are heavily reliant on public funding. This chapter examines the relations between civil society and advocacy groups by examining the details of political parties’ private revenue. While the conclusions drawn from this data source can be contentious, they are nevertheless insightful. Interest groups may be thought of as intermediaries for civil society concerns, and recent literature on party–group partnerships has been incorporated. Private finance analysis results corroborate previous analytical research on party–group ties.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    For the complete list of variables included, see Appendix A.1.

  2. 2.

    The variable ‘party ideological placement’ (PIP) grouped parties into extreme right (Movimento Sociale Italiano [MSI], LaDestra [LD]), right-wing (Centro Cristiano Democratico [CCD], Forza Italia [FI], Fratelli d’Italia [FDI], Popolo della Libertà [PDL], Lega Nord [LN], Partito Liberale Italiano [PLI], Alleanza Nazionale [AN], Nuovo Centro Destra [NCD]), centre (Democrazia Cristiana [DC], Partito Popolare Italiano [PPI], Patto Segni [PS], Scelta Civica [SC], Unione di Centro [UDC]), left-wing (Verdi [FV], La Rete [LR], Partito Democratico [PD], Partito Democratico della Sinistra [PDS], Democratici di Sinistra [DS], Partito Socialista [PSI], Partito Socialista Democratico Italiano [PSDI], Autonomia Democratici Progressiti [ADP]), and extreme-left parties (Partito Comunista Italiano [PCI]). The variable was simplified into three classes—right-wing, centre, and left-wing—to avoid empty cells. Political parties’ PIP was based on their electoral programme’s electoral agenda (see Party Manifestoes Project, https://manifesto-project.wzb.eu/). When it is not represented in the tables, the PIP did not declare any private contributions.

  3. 3.

    Tables showing specific parties’ relationships with interest groups are provided in Appendix B.1.

References

  • Allern, E., Aylott, N., & Christiansen, F. J. (2007). Scenes from a Marriage: Social Democrats and Trade Unions in Scandinavia. CVPA Working Papers. University of Copenhagen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allern, E., & Bale, T. (Eds) (2012). Political Parties and Interest Groups: Disentangling Complex Relationships, Party Politics (Special Issue), 18(7).

    Google Scholar 

  • Allern, E. H. (2010). Political Parties and Interest Groups in Norway. ECPR Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkhout, J., & Lowery, D. (2010). The Changing Demography of the EU Interest System Since 1990. European Union Politics, 11(3), 447–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binderkrantz, A. S. (2012). Interest Groups in the Media: Bias and Diversity Over Time. European Journal of Political Research, 51, 117–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binderkrantz, A. S., Christiansen, P. M., & Pedersen, H. H. (2015). Interest Group Access. Governance, 28, 95–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borghetto, E., & Visconti, F. (2014). Governing by Revising: A Study of Post-Enactment Policy Change in Italy. In N. Conti & F. Marangoni (Eds.), The Challenge of Coalition Government: The Italian Case. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Budge, I., Ezrow, L., & McDonald, M. D. (2010). Ideology, Party Factionalism and Policy Change: An Integrated Dynamic Theory. British Journal of Political Science, 40, 781–804.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capano, G., Lizzi, R., & Pritoni, A. (2014). Gruppi di interesse e politiche pubbliche nell’Italia della tansizione: oltre il clientelismo e il collateralismo. Rivista Italiana di Politiche Pubbliche, 9(3), 323–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrieri, M. (2009). Le organizzazioni di interesse nel sistema politico bipolare. Astrid Working Paper. Roma.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costantelos, J. (2001). Italy: The Erosion and Demise of Party Dominance. In C. Thomas (Ed.), Political Parties and Interest Groups. Lynne Rienner Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cotta, M., & Verzichelli. (2007). Political Institutions in Italy. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Micheli, C., & Verzichelli, L. (Eds.). (2004). Il parlamento. ilMulino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duverger, M. (1972). Party Politics and Pressure Groups: A Comparative Introduction. Thomas Y. Crowell Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabbrini, S. (2009). The Transformation of the Italian Democracy. Bullettin of Italian Politics, 1(19), 29–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrante, M. (1998). Transizione di regime e interessi particolari in Italia. Rivista Italiana di Scienza Politica, 28(1), 81–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goerres, A., & Höpner, M. (2014). Polarizers Or Landscape Groomers? An Emprical Analysis of Party Donations by the 100 Largest German Companies in 1984–2005. Socio-Economic Review, 12, 517–544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halpin, D., & Jordan, G. (Eds.). (2012). The Scale of Interest Organization in Democratic Politics: Data and Research Methods. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huber, E., & Stephens, J. D. (2001). Development and Crisis of the Welfare State. Parties and Policies in Global Markets. University of Chicago Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, R., & Mair., P. (1995). Changing Models of Party Organization and Party Democracy. The Emergence of the Cartel Party. Party Politics 1(1): 5-28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koff, S. Z., & Koff, S. P. (2000). Italy. From the First to the Second Republic. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koß, M. (2011). The Politics of Party Funding. State Funding to Political Parties and Party Competition in Western Europe. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanza, O., & Lavdas, K. (2000). The Disentanglement of Interest Politics: Business Associability, the Parties and Policy in Italy and Greece. European Journal of Political Research, 37(2), 203–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanzalaco, L. (1990). Dall’impresa all’associazione. FrancoAngeli.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanzalaco, L. (1993). Interest Groups in Italy: From Pressure Activity to Policy Networks. In J. J. Richardson (Ed.), Pressure Groups. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • LaPalombara, J. (1964). Interest Groups in the Italian Politics. Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lawson, K., & Merkl, P. H. (Eds.). (1988). When Parties Fail: Emerging Alternative Organizations. Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipset, S. M., & Rokkan, S. (1967). Party Systems and Voter Alignments: Cross-National Perspectives. Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lisi, M. (2021). Party–Group Interactions in Southern Europe: Evidence from an Expert Survey. Italian Political Science Review/Rivista Italiana Di Scienza Politica, 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lizzi, R. (2011). I gruppi d’interesse in Italia tra continuità e cambiamento. Fattori istituzionali e dinamiche di policy. Rivista Italiana di Politiche Pubbliche, 6(2), 179–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lizzi, R., & Pritoni, A. (2014). Sistema degli interessi e sistema mediatico in Italia attraverso un’indagine sulla stampa nazionale (1992–2013). Comunicazione Politica, 2, 287–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lizzi, R. and A. Pritoni. (2017). The Size and Shape of the Italian Interest System Between the 1980s and the Present Day. Italian Political Science Review. Published Online: 30 March 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattina, L. (1991). Gli industriali e la democrazia. La Confindustria nella formazione dell’Italia repubblicana. ilMulino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattina, L. (2011). Note a margine delle più recenti ricerche sui gruppi. Rivista Italiana di Politiche Pubbliche, 6(2), 387–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • McMenamin, I. (2012). If Money Talk, What Does it Say? Varieties of Capitalism and Business Financing of Parties. World Politics, 64(1), 1–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morlino, L. (1998). Democracy Between Consolidation and Crisis: Parties, Groups and Citizens in Southern Europe. Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pritoni, A. (2015). Poteri forti? Banche e assicurazioni nel sistema politico italiano. ilMulino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, A. (2012). Interest Group-Party Interaction in EU Politics. Party Politics, 18(1), 81–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, M. (1997). Financing Party Politics in Italy: A Case of Systematic Corruption. West European Politics, 20(1), 54–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schattschneider, E. E. (1960). The Semisovereign People: A Realist View of Democracy in America. Holt, Rinehart and Wiston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlozman, K. L. (2010). Who Sings in the Heavenly Chorus? The Shape of Organized Interest System. In L. S. Maisel & J. M. Berry (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of American Political Parties and Interest Groups. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, C. (Ed.). (2001). Political Parties and Interest Groups. Lynne Rienner Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • von Beyme, K. (1985). Political Parties in Western Democracies. Gower.

    Google Scholar 

  • von Beyme, K. (1993). Die politische Klasse im Parteienstaat, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp. Ital.: Classe politica a partitocrazia, Turin: UTET (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  • Warner, C. M. (2000). Confessions of an Interest Group. The Catholic Church and the Political Parties in Europe. Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wessels, B. (1996). System of Economic Interest Groups and Socio-Economic Performance. Paper Presented at the 1966 Annual Meeting of American Political Science Association, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yishai, Y. (2001). Bringing Society Back In: Post-cartel Parties in Israel. Party Politics, 7(6), 667–687.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Chiara Fiorelli

Authors
  1. Chiara Fiorelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chiara Fiorelli .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Fiorelli, C. (2021). The Connective Capability of Italian Political Parties. In: Political Party Funding and Private Donations in Italy. Interest Groups, Advocacy and Democracy Series. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73869-3_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation