Losers of globalization? Politics in the Prosecco Hills region in Italy as a case of radical right-wing populism in a (wealthy) rural area

Losers of globalization – Politics in the Prosecco Hills Region in Italy as a Case of Radical Right-wing Populism in a (wealthy) Rural Area Your Name Subject and Section Professor’s Name December 4, 2024 Globalization, typically linked to underprivileged territories' economic and social turmoil, has generated multiple paradoxes that enhance economic well-being in the territories. Most studies targeting radical right-wing populism (RRPP) consider it a phenomenon exclusive to economically deprived zones. However, examining prosperous rural areas such as the Conegliano and Valdobbiadene hills in Italy can provide a broader view of populism. In sharp contrast to the media portrayal of the loser of globalization, this region is characterized by the impressively successful and growing production of prosecco wine, low unemployment, and substantial export revenues. However, there has emerged an increasing nationalism, which is evident in this area, attributed to factors such as identity protection and environmental conservation and excessive wealth among the wealthy population. This paper aims to identify how resistance to globalization, alongside the fast growth of exports of the Prosecco industry, has influenced the development of radical right-wing populism in a wealthy agri-food rural region. That is why the paper focuses on the case study of how Lega and Fratelli d'Italia utilize localist discourses of environmental politics to intersect with the populist vectors of anti-elite sentiment to take on the hegemonic economic frame of globalization. Stakeholder narratives and country studies alongside existing literature, this paper will analyze the causes, effects, and future development of right-wing populism in the Prosecco Hills. The Socio-Political Landscape of the Prosecco Hills The Prosecco Hills region is in the northeastern province of Treviso and strongly connects to Italy's agricultural tradition, particularly winemaking. The area produces the well-known Prosecco wine, which is receiving high global demand. Prosecco's worldwide product has brought dramatic economic gains, the count of which has risen from 142 million bottles in 2011 to 464 million in 2019 (Padoan & Zamponi, 2024, pg. 3). While the local inhabitants were involved in subsistence farming early on, the area's economy has recently focused on the industrial production of grapes for wine and wine tourism. Nevertheless, in the context of the political dimension, dissatisfaction with the ongoing growth of the wine sector in the Prosecco Hills has increased lately. Discontent is not purely because of an inability to purchase goods but also because of the state of the environment and concern for one's culture. People in the country, especially in remote areas such as Maine, have demonstrated against the vinedressers who have cut down trees to pave the way for new vineyards. The increase in farming has facilitated the release of pesticides and the overcrowding of local water resources, hence degradation. These ecological alterations became key to the local against movements that aspire to express issues about the region's continuing growth. The radical right-wing populist parties that have recently emerged and thrived in the socio-political context act as the analytical lens on localism. Padoan and Zamponi (2024, pg. 21) suggest that the effectiveness of RRPPs in areas such as the Prosecco Hills...