Bocconi and SWG Take the Pulse of Italy

In a rapidly changing world full of complex social challenges, understanding the dynamics of democracy is more important than ever. To gain clearer insights, the “Monitoring Democracy” project has been launched—a new observatory on the state of democracy in Italy, created by Bocconi University in collaboration with the leading research company SWG.

The observatory, an initiative of the Department of Social and Political Sciences, and in particular of director Vincenzo Galasso, aims to systematically gather in-depth information on how the Italian public perceives a range of pressing contemporary issues. These topics go far beyond simple voting intentions, covering areas such as trust in institutions, civic participation, and citizens’ perceptions of democratic processes.

The main goals of “Monitoring Democracy” are twofold. In addition to generating valuable materials and research insights, the project aims to go beyond the confines of academia to provide the public with scientifically rigorous and non-partisan analyses of the state of democracy in Italy. The observatory, implemented by SWG through interviews with a statistically representative sample of the population, includes four surveys per year conducted at regular intervals, plus up to ten “spot” questionnaires on current hot topics. Additionally, political communications on social media will be analyzed with particular attention to monitoring disinformation campaigns using large language models.

The first results from “Monitoring Democracy” are already available and reveal key aspects of Italians’ concerns. Global issues like wars and climate change are significant, but the primary concerns for many people still revolve around material needs. Less affluent citizens emphasize economic anxieties more, while higher social classes tend to focus on healthcare, international tensions, and political issues. One interesting point is the polarization of political choices among young voters (aged 18–29): young women are significantly more left-leaning than young men.

Political divisions also influence Italians’ concerns and opinions. “Affective polarization” can shape how people view members of opposing political parties, and this even extends to family relationships: two out of five Italians would disapprove if their child were in a romantic relationship with someone who votes for a party they strongly dislike.