# Italy's Far Right Blueprint > How Italy's political experiments birthed the modern far right across Europe. - Title: Italy's Far Right Blueprint · Foreign Policy | Shortify - Summary: How Italy's political experiments birthed the modern far right across Europe. Italy's far-right rise under Berlusconi paved the way for Meloni's leadership… - Keywords: italy, far right, georgia meloni, silvio berlusconi, matteo salvini, brothers of italy, forza italy, five star movement, afd, alternative for germany, national rally, reform uk - Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/10/09/italy-far-right-book-review-nyt-rome-correspondent - Author: Michele Barbero - Read time: 2 min - Topics: italy, far right, georgia meloni, silvio berlusconi, matteo salvini, brothers of italy, forza italy, five star movement, afd, alternative for germany, national rally, reform uk ## Italy's political landscape Italy appears to tourists as a museum stuck in the past with little global influence. ## Jason Horowitz's memoir Jason Horowitz, an american journalist who spent much of the last quarter century in italy, wrote The Italian Job. ## Berlusconi's political impact Silvio berlusconi dominated italy's politics for 20 years before resigning in 2011. ## Berlusconi's influence on trump Horowitz claims berlusconi set the mold for trump, the italian original before the american knockoff. > Berlusconi set the mold for trump, the italian original before the american knockoff ## Berlusconi's coalition strategy Berlusconi helped break italy's far right from its cave and bring it into coalition governments. ## Meloni's rise to power Giorgia meloni became italy's first far-right prime minister in 2022, four years after berlusconi's death. ## Far right's european spread Populist nationalist parties have backed or become part of governments in sweden, the netherlands, france, and uk. ## Meloni's conservative agenda Meloni has pursued a staunchly conservative agenda curtailing abortion rights and banning surrogacy. ## Italy's political system Italy's system with strong checks and balances emerged from world war ii's aftermath. ## France's political contrast France has less constitutional checks than italy, allowing president emmanuel macron to push controversial pension reforms. ## Italy's economic challenges Italy faces low salaries and aging population straining welfare and elder care. ## Horowitz's personal perspective Horowitz shows sympathy for liberal reformers but views five star movement as conspiracy theorists. ## Italy's far right future Italians may be tempted by populism but remain a nation of moderates with little sympathy for authoritarianism. ## The far right's european trend Italy's far right rise has inspired similar movements across europe including afd in germany. ## The story's open question Will the far right grow tamer as it nears power or become more authoritarian? ## Key takeaway Italy's far-right rise under Berlusconi paved the way for Meloni's leadership and similar movements in Europe.