Political scientists have long argued that a defining characteristic of populism is the distinction between a “pure people” and a “corrupt elite”. In the turbulent politics of the early 21st century, few public figures have promoted that worldview with as much vigour and impact as the Italian comedian Beppe Grillo.
During the 2010s, Mr Grillo’s Five Star Movement (M5S) became at one point the most successful and quixotic populist party in Europe, coming first in the Italian election of 2018 by a comfortable margin. Its signature principles were a belief in the power of direct democracy, and a conviction that traditional left‑right politics should be superseded by a popular revolt against la casta – the privileged elite whose power persisted whichever government was in charge. People power was mobilised through the party’s Rousseau platform, designed as a forum for online democracy by M5S’s co-founder and internet evangelist Gianroberto Casaleggio.
