First They Took Rome

Praise

“In this well-researched and engagingly written book David Broder shows how the rise of Lega and of his current leader Matteo Salvini emerged out of decades of economic stagnation, social despair and political nihilism in Italian society. And how the abject failure of the Italian Left to represent workers’ interests has contributed to the success Lega’s nativism.”
—Paolo Gerbaudo

“Expertly dissects the political and social trends that account for the League’s revival since 2013.”
—Tony Barber, Financial Times

“No other book offers such a clear and concise analysis of just how much Italy has changed, for the worse in this neo-liberal world.”
—Chris Bambery, Brave New Europe

“Highly useful in understanding how politics have changed since the Second World War, and where Italy is going in the very unpredictable Europe of today.”
—Nicholas Dima , Newsmax

“David Broder has done us a great service with this succinct account of Italian neoliberal democracy, and he tells it well. If we see what has occurred in Italy as exceptional then we not only don’t understand what has taken place, but we don’t get the warning that what happens there can happen here. We have been warned.”
—Chris Bambery, Counterfire

“Broder unravels the mystery of how one of Europe’s most stable democracies, boasting superb labour rights and a thriving manufacturing economy, became a basket case almost over night—plagued by political instability, poverty, and mass emigration.”
—Robert Maisey, Tribune

“Insightful.”
—Derek Gadd, The Article