Legitimation and Evolution on the Italian Right Wing: Social and Ideological Repositioning ofAlleanza Nazionaleand theLega Nord

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Abstract
From its position as the epitome of the ‘old’ post-war fascist extreme right party, the Movimento Sociale Italiano/Alleanza Nazionale (AN) has shifted towards the ideological centre and reinvented itself as a proto-conservative party to exploit the new institutional logic of the post-1993 Italian political system. Conversely, the Northern League has shifted from its position as regionalist protest party to an actor more akin to other European extreme right parties, particularly in its authoritarian and anti-immigrant rhetoric. While the AN's evolution under Gianfranco Fini has seen it reintroduced into the political mainstream and included in the Forza-Italia-led government, this article examines the residual extremist views, such as support for fascism, found among the voters and members of the party. Moreover, despite the centre convergence and nationalization of the AN, the implantation of the Northern League in extremist ideological space demonstrates that there is a potential pool of voters receptive to anti-immigrant and populist-authoritarian appeal.

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