Processes of cultural and political change in party organizations: a qualitative study inside Salvini’s League

This study examines the trajectory of the League as a party within the populist-radical right, during is its period of transformation from regionalism to nationalism and its efforts to expand into non-traditional areas with varying degrees of success. It covers the period from 2012 to 2024 though interviews with party members and participant observation in public events between 2021 and 2023. The first objective is to analyze how the League has changed over time, with a particular emphasis on sub-national dynamics during periods of rapid growth and decline. The second objective involves investigating party change as a sociological process. This includes incorporating analytical elements that are often overlooked in traditional party politics scholarship, specifically focusing on the connection between culture and political interactions during these change processes. Finally, this research aims to explore the sociological understanding of the relationship between culture and political action, extending beyond the specific case of the League to examine the transformation of patterns of political action within organizations more broadly.