Berlusconi and the Power of Television : 2008-11 Coll. Diplomacy and Strategy

Power and media are closely linked in any ideological political system, but Italy under three-term premier Silvio Berlusconi is a case apart. A businessman-turned-politician and owner of a vast media empire, Berlusconi became Italy's longest-serving post-war prime minister through his proficient use of television. This book examines how Berlusconi built his empire and used the media to achieve and retain political success in a milieu where allegations of corruption, bribery and links to the Mafia were constant features, and amid his own sexual scandals. Finally, the author wonders if Berlusconi's media-driven political power is a “model” that could be replicated in other countries.