In fact, the roots of Berlusconism can be traced back to the US of the 1980s, when former Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan stormed to power thanks to his charm and fame.
ROME: Most analysts expect Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to meet defeat in Italy’s April 9-10 general election. Even so, “Berlusconism” is alive and well and no country should feel entirely immune from it, an American journalist and author warns in his latest book, tracing the life of the media mogul-turned-premier.
Alexander Stille, a former Italy correspondent and currently a professor of international journalism at New York’s Columbia University, has published a new book on one of the world’s most talked-about politicians titled Citizen Berlusconi.
The book retraces the life and achievements of Berlusconi, from the uncertain origins of his $12 billion fortune to his controversial performance as prime minister over the past five years.
While foreigners often tend to brush off the Berlusconi phenomenon as “folkloristic” — by focusing on his recent promise to give up sex or his tendency to compare himself to the likes of Jesus Christ or Napoleon — Stille argues that it would be wrong to dismiss Italy’s premier as an isolated clown on the world’s political scene.
“At first glance, Berlusconi may appear a bizarre, incomprehensible and strictly Italian phenomenon,” Stille writes in his book, “but if looked at more closely, he appears as an avant-garde figure, who embodies many of the main trends present in modern-day politics.”
These include money, control of the media, celebrity status and an uncanny ability to be liked. In fact, Stille believes there are signs of Berlusconism creeping in several other countries around the world, including Venezuela, Russia and the US.
“Take (US Vice President) Dick Cheney, in spite of the fact that he represents the exact same policies of George W Bush, he could never have been elected president. Why? Because Cheney is unpleasant while Bush is seen as a nice guy,” remarks Stille.
In fact, the roots of Berlusconism can be traced back to the US of the 1980s, when former Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan stormed to power thanks to his charm and fame. Berlusconi's “post-modern” style of politics relies on another key factor: an ability to communicate easily and directly to all, regardless of their culture or education.
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