The ‘constructivist’ turn in representation has alerted us to the entrepreneurial qualities of representatives, how they give both ‘body’ and ‘voice’ to their constituents. In parallel, there has been a growing recognition of informal, non authorized, and more diffuse forms of representation. The emergence of the 5Star Movement in Italian politics was part of such trends. But their electoral success has thrust upon the Movement considerable political responsibilities, which they have found difficult to deal with, due mainly to the anti-political nature of the movement. The result has been a mixture between a strictly delegate-based conception of representation, where online consultation and membership referenda function as vicarious authorization; and a manipulative and charismatic use of power by the ‘core’ leadership of the Movement. In spite, or perhaps because of its contradictory features, this is an exemplary case-study of both the opportunities and dangers of new developments in democratic representation.
