This timely volume analyses the Northern League under its founder Umberto Bossi (1991-2012). As a well-led mass party, the League has much to teach political scientists today on the reasons behind populist growth, endurance and success.

1 Introduction2 The ideology3 The electoral arena: North, peripheries, cross-class appeal and shifting alliances4 The party in office5 The Northern League as a mass party6 Umberto Bossi’s leadership7 Participation without power8 Conclusion: Populism in Europe: Lessons from Umberto Bossi’s Northern LeagueBibliographyIndex

Populism in Europe offers a detailed and systematic analysis of the ideology, electoral and governmental performances, organisational model, type of leadership and member activism of the Northern League under its founder, Umberto Bossi (1991–2012). Created thirty years ago, the Northern League has been shelved by a new leader, Matteo Salvini, who has replaced it with a brand new party that bears his own name: the Lega per Salvini Premier (League for Salvini Premier). However, as western Europe continues to witness the sustained growth of populism within its borders, ‘Bossi’s League’ offers a high-profile case study of a populist party from protest to government. Based on a wealth of original research, the book identifies the Northern League’s consistent and coherent ideology, its strong leadership and its ability to create communities of loyal partisan activists as key ingredients of its success. Through their in-depth analysis, Albertazzi and Vampa show that the League has much to teach us about how populists can achieve durability and rootedness and how parties of all kinds can still benefit from a committed and dedicated membership today.