Open AccessCelebrity meets Populism in Europe: The Political Performances of Nicolas Sarkozy and Silvio Berlusconi
Author(s) -
Stephen Alomes,
Bruno Mascitelli
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of european studies/australian and new zealand journal of european studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1837-2147
pISSN - 1836-1803
DOI - 10.30722/anzjes.vol5.iss1.15133
Subject(s) - populism , politics , presidential system , political science , power (physics) , presidential campaign , political economy , fake news , media studies , sociology , law , physics , quantum mechanics
Throughout the world, celebrity and populism have become formidable combinations in supporting political leadership. The rise of these phenomena has provoked much debate and has led to the examination of the features, causes and consequences of this kind of politics. Celebrity politics is a reflection of both the influence of celebrities and the power of celebrity images in the media which see politicians becoming celebrities, deliberately or accidentally. The political rise and fall of Nicholas Sarkozy and Silvio Berlusconi and their roles in the performances associated with political leadership furnish two case studies of celebrity and populism in France and Italy respectively. This paper examines these two “presidential-style” leaders in Europe who at first seemedadept in practising aspects of both celebrity and populist politics.