Retoriche populiste : riflessioni sui linguaggi politici della sinistra moderata e della sinistra radicale

The present article investigates contemporary political languages and, in particular, the rhetoric that develops within the so-called populist movements. Particular attention will be focused on Italian Parties and Movements linked to the moderate left and the radical left, wondering how much populist rhetoric has penetrated into their language. Firstly, we will question whether populism, in general, should be politically placed right or left. Secondly, we will focus on populist rhetoric in general and on the related spin-doctoring strategies. Two focus will follow: first, on the political language of the moderate left, with particular reference to the PD (Partito Democratico) led by Matteo Renzi (considered until September 2017); finally, on the radical left movements which, in Europe in general, showed a belated adjustment with respect to the winning strategies of some populist movements which, on the contrary, have shown to obtain an ever wider consensus, thanks to the rhetoric they have been able to use.