ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the interactions between mainstream and populist parties in Italy and how these are affected by the management of the ‘euro crisis’ and of the refugee policy crisis. It argues that these two crises exacerbated the tensions between responsibility and demands for representation in the competition between mainstream and populist parties, ultimately reducing the support for the Democratic Party (PD) and Forza Italia (FI) and boosting the League and the Five Star Movement (M5S). Empirically, the chapter compares the supply-side of the four parties on issues related to the economy and immigration using qualitative and quantitative data from party manifestoes, social media, and public speeches. The results show that there is no single way in which the PD tried (and failed) to contain the growth of populist parties, as competition strategies changed depending on the issue at stake. Additionally, the way in which the PD reacted depended not only on strategic calculations, but also on external and internal pressures on the party itself, which produced tensions over responsible government of the economy and strict control of borders and immigration.
