'Populist ideas are often confused with totalitarian ones. Professor Martinico, taking Italy as a case study, convincingly demonstrates how the two actually contradict each other at several points. Populism manipulates and instrumentalises constitutionalist ideas, and it does not simply deny them. It is a thoroughly researched, well-reasoned and clearly written book, both for those who are interested in contemporary Italian political and constitutional developments and for those who wish to understand the effects of populism on constitutional law in general.' András Jakab, Professor of Constitutional and Administrative Law, University of Salzburg