20:30-21:30 // BOOK PRESENTATION
IN COLLABORATION WITH LIBRERIA GHIBELLINA
Presenter: Claudia Fusani
Speaker: Alessandro Dal Lago
The rise of the Internet as a global environment has changed political perspectives. On one hand it creates the illusion of an unrestricted sphere of communication, in which citizens can find true freedom. On the other, it allows irresponsible leaders to contact those same citizens without any form of mediation, through social networks or by organising political consultations online. The thesis of the book is that the only ones to take advantage of this are the new – Trump, Erdogan, Putin – or aspiring authoritarian leaders– Le Pen, Grillo, Salvini, Farage. All people who would like to get rid of political parties and establish a direct relationship with citizens, encouraging their paranoia about security, immigration, and economic protectionism. That is why the rise of the new right can be called digital populism. Populism, because citizens are not seen as a flock to be cared for. Digital, because without the triumph of the Internet, it would be inconceivable.