The Limits of Populism: Origins, Development, and External Environment of Fratelli d’Italia and Alternative Für Deutschland

This article investigates the evolution of two European parties—Fratelli d’Italia (FdI) and Alternative für Deutschland (AfD)— commonly classified within the broader family of populist radical right parties (PRRPs). Through a comparative, diachronic analysis, the study seeks to answer a key research question: How have the ideological and organizational characteristics of FdI and AfD evolved since their founding, and to what extent can they still be considered part of the same political family? First, it aims to refine our understanding of populism’s manifestations within different political systems. Second, it seeks to identify the conditions under which populist positions evolve into far right practices or remain within the bounds of democratic contestation. The paper shows that the concept of populism has limits in capturing the divergent paths of FdI and AfD. While both are defined as PRRPs, FdI has moved toward populist institutionalization, whereas AfD has drifted closer to right wing extremism.