Behind the Book – Moving Right: The Changing Role of the Left in Neoliberal Europe – The Case of Italy

The inspiration for this book is rooted in my early political awareness. Since the age of sixteen, I was drawn to the world of politics, driven by a desire to understand the dynamics shaping our society. I was fascinated by the history of political parties and by the foundational values of democracy and antifascism in Italy. In those years, new movements began to emerge across Europe—often described as populist, demagogic—while, somewhat paradoxically, a neoliberal turn was taking place within the very structures of the mainstream Left. In Italy, this shift was particularly evident within the Democratic Party, which carried with it a rich but complex legacy—from the PCI to the PDS, the DS, and finally the PD. I was struck by how a political culture rooted in social justice, labor rights, and egalitarianism was being reshaped in the name of modernization, competitiveness, and efficiency.

This book explores neoliberalism both as a collective ideology and as an economic doctrine, framing it as a distinct phase of contemporary capitalism. It examines how neoliberalism took root within Italian left-wing politics, focusing on two critical moments: the 1990s, when many reforms began reshaping the functioning of the welfare state, and the Renzi government in 2013, with its education and labor market reforms. By analyzing these two key periods, and particularly the respective education and labour reforms, the book shows how neoliberal ideas did not merely "arrive" from above or outside—they were also internalized, promoted, and sometimes embraced by political actors traditionally associated with opposing those very principles. But more importantly, they were the expression of the dominant socio economic groups, as defined by their position withi the relations of production.

One of the most rewarding and complex aspects of this research was conducting elite interviews with key political and union actors involved in the developments I explore. Securing interviews was particularly challenging, especially given the sensitive and often painful nature of the neoliberal turn that characterized the Renzi era — a shift whose consequences are still deeply felt and whose legacy continues to weigh heavily on the Italian Left. These interviews, however, provided invaluable insights into the shifts I analyze. They confirmed that neoliberalism cannot be reduced to a set of domestic policy choices. It is a transnational project whose logic operates across multiple scales, shaping national politics through broader European and global structures.

This book is, in many ways, the outcome of a personal and intellectual journey that began with a sense of disorientation and turned into a critical research path. Guided by a neo-Gramscian theoretical approach, the book seeks to analyze the structural and ideological dimensions of neoliberalism and its profound impact not only on society but on the very political cultures that once defined themselves in opposition to it. I hope it contributes to a deeper understanding of how political identities evolve, and to renewed debates about the future of the Left in Europe.