This study examines the role of the various processes entailed in globalisation in the rise of
the New Right in Italy and Germany. The first section aims to clarify what is meant by the term
globalisation for it is more easily used than defined. Thus several perspectives such as
those of the tranformationalists and the hyperglobalists are taken into account. Then
economic and cultural globalisation considered to be the most influential forms of
globalisation are analysed in depth. The second part specifically examines the Italian and the
German cases by analysing the political and ideological discourse of successful New Right
cultural movements and parties e.g. the Italian Northern League and National Alliance. This
analysis explains the difference between the populist New Right and the extreme right and how
the rise of New Right parties can be linked with the strengthening of cultural and economic
globalisation.
