The Northern League as a mass party

Abstract

This chapter starts with a general discussion of the key features of mass parties and then focuses on Umberto Bossi’s Lega Nord/Northern League, by considering its organisation and membership. It argues that, as a traditional “mass party”, the League provides a perfect example of an organisation able to maintain high levels of mobilisation and to “gain” much from its members, despite its lack of internal democracy and strong centralisation of power in the hands of its leader (what we call here: “participation without power”). The chapter relies on a rich series of interviews with party members and representatives to reveal the party’s internal workings. In addition to this, it also draws on an analysis of key League statutes, rules and regulations and other publications produced by the party for internal use (such as party manuals). Hence, this part of the book provides a better understanding of the structure of and relations of power within the organisation that Bossi created and led for three decades. A postscript outlines the organisational evolution of the party after Bossi’s resignation and under Matteo Salvini’s new leadership.