Chantal Morosso

What were the prevailing opinions in Italy about the major candidates (Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris)?  

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By observing and by listening to conversation about the US elections and especially just getting closer to the election day, among teachers, the academy and also high school where I've been teaching and where we deal with reality around politics, history and so on, I can tell you that the community itself was a bit confused by mass media and so the kind of influence they have on the opinion of the audience because there was on one hand the hope for a change and especially the fear to get back to the past with Trump. No, it can be possible we have already seen the outcome of Trump's politics. The disappointment for Biden's policy too because the government the American government ruled by Biden somehow has given a sort of kick to the people who were waiting for a change. They were kind of sympathizing for the democratic party but then they've been very disappointed. So that fear and disappointment and the hope for a change represented by Kamala Harris that's the overall view on the people around especially young people, teenagers, young adults and colleagues in the academy.  

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What specific events in the U.S. election campaign affected Italians the most? 

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First, the endorsement by Elon Musk. There were a lot of rumors and gossip around. At university we have been talking about artificial intelligence, about the development of digital intelligence and how to imagine the future of our society and so the idea we had of Elon Musk couldn't really lead us towards the open endorsement. Then of course with the outbreak of the Israel-Palestinian war, people got more involved into the US elections and there was a kind of worry and fear about the possible outcome of possible results of the elections and especially to see the change if the president changes what will happen.  

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What issues in this election are of greatest interest or debate in Italy ? 

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Immediately, abortion, a lot. Then immigrants and migrants, so the idea of the minorities and all the phenomenon of migration, how to deal with that. We noted that the US have a crucial role into this. War, as I said not only Israel and Palestine but also Russia and Ukraine and not only. Then environment, the future of the planet. 

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How do Italians perceive the influence of the United States on major international issues ? 

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In general, not only for the US election but in genera, there is a feeling that Italy is somehow influenced by the US, ig issues, world issues. If the US decided to do something, Italy generally feels like following. So they lead and Italy follows. this is what I've been observing all through my life. Especially when it is about politics Italy generally supports US politics. Not only as a matter of sympathy, because of similar parties, but also due to this sympathy, Italy plays a very supportive role. 

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Have Italians followed the 2024 elections more than previous elections ? 

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It is difficult to say but actuallyI can compare this very election to the one seeing Trump against Clinton. In my opinion, Italians followed this last one more closely than the previous one. There were more discussion, more involvement.  

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And how do you explain it, according to you?  

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Getting back to what I was telling you at the very beginning, because of the disappointment towards the Democratic Party and Biden's government, because of the big issues around, very actual ones, the two wars ongoing. When it's wartime we are all more involved in big decisions, international decisions. I wouldn't underestimate the role of a woman an Afro-American woman, Indian origins and so that story behind, fighting against the tycoon. I think that even people without a real political base, without a real political concern, were somehow involved in the elections.  

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Was the mainstream Italian media more involved in this election compared to previous ones? 

 

Yes, I think because of the development of the new mass media, social media especially bombarding and having a much bigger impact on the young generations for example and not only.  

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How has the historical context of Italian American relations influenced the perception of American elections in Italy? 

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There is a historical background which is very clear. Since the second world war with the liberation (la liberazione)is really we feel like we still must pay a tribute to the US. This is very naive and not the truth of the real reasons behind the end of the war. The popular point of view is that still today somehow, we owe something to the US because the Americans arrived and liberated Italy from the war. I think that history is still influencing the way we perceive the US and their politics. 

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Is the perception of the American elections in Italy different from that in France, in your opinion? 

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Yes, I think so. The perception we have of France and French people when we are talking about politics and big issues it is like having our neighbors being more critical and not so supportive. Maybe because France represents one of the big powers of Europe. Maybe France is more openly opposed to the US while Italy, whether it is the right or the left, there is always this idea of being friends with the US. So, if the US says something, decides something we must agree somehow while France is a good example of attacking or facing big issues in a freeway. Then it's also cultural; for example, when there is a protest, French people demonstrate in the streets, while Italians immediately surrender 

 

How have the American elections influenced the political debate in Italy? What issues have been most taken up by Italian politicians?

 

The result somehow is the natural consequence of the political trend, so the right parties are getting more power, more credibility, more trust in different countries in Europe and all over the world.