The road to chaos - a cautionary tale from Italy

David Brooks
Mr Silvio Berlusconi (left), leader of the Forza Italia party, with Mr Matteo Salvini, leader of the eurosceptic party League, during a centre-right coalition general election campaign rally in Rome on March 1. The League was among the parties that d
Mr Silvio Berlusconi (left), leader of the Forza Italia party, with Mr Matteo Salvini, leader of the eurosceptic party League, during a centre-right coalition general election campaign rally in Rome on March 1. The League was among the parties that dominated the weekend's election. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
Updated
Mar 07, 2018, 05:00 AM
Published
Mar 07, 2018, 05:00 AM

What happens to US politics after Mr Donald Trump? Does it snap back to normal, or do things spin ever more widely out of control?

The best indicator we have so far is the example of Italy since the reign of Mr Silvio Berlusconi. And the main lesson there is that once the norms of acceptable behaviour are violated and once the institutions of government are weakened, it is very hard to re-establish them.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 07, 2018, with the headline The road to chaos - a cautionary tale from Italy. Subscribe

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