The Five Star Movement’s progressive detachment from social movements

This chapter focuses on the Five Star Movement (FSM) and its relations with social movements. First, the connections with movements in the emerging phase of the party is discussed showing that, albeit in a fuzzy, contradictory and inconsistent way, the party captured activists, grievances, claims and action forms from social movements of the past decade. Second, with reference to the legislature 2013-2018 the development of a peculiar parliamentary style is illustrated, showing how the FSM elected representatives disrupted the normal institutional routine by staging protest actions within the parliament, shifting their focus from real conflicts and movements to the media. Third, the participatory opportunities provided by the party are critically assessed analysing the actual working of its platform “Rousseau”, intended to facilitate members’ online participation. Finally, a discussion on the current nature of the FSM questions to what an extent it can still be considered a movement party proximate to the field of contentious politics after 5 years in parliament and in light of becoming the most voted party in the 2018 general elections and subsequently forming part of a coalition government.