Is Italy the Model for Europe’s Future?

Jason Horowitz, a former Rome bureau chief, reflects on his observation that European politics has increasingly mirrored the Italian model over the past quarter-century. Writing in an adaptation of his book, "The Italian Job," Horowitz argues that the continent has experienced an "Italianization" of its political landscape, characterized by coalition instability and a growing electorate seeking new leadership.

He notes that countries such as Britain, France, and Germany have followed Italy’s trajectory by integrating the far right into the political mainstream. Drawing on the symbolism of the Roman god Janus, who represents transitions between the past and future, the author suggests that his long-term reporting on Italian political shifts provided an early glimpse into the broader transformation currently unfolding across Europe, where traditional political norms are being challenged by new, often volatile, ideological movements.