From Movement to Party. MeetUp groups, Policies and Conflict in the Organisational Development of the Italian Five Stars Movement (2008-2014)

The article proposes an analysis of the recent organisational and ideological developments and characteristics of the 5SM, which are tackled resorting to primary sources such as the web and MeetUp portal. The MeetUp groups are analyzed with respect to their policy profile, to their organisational chart and structure, and to their territorial distribution and membership. Some internal conflicts point out evidence that the 5SM is changing into a complex organisation and moving from a stratarchy to a hierarchy. The major lines of conflict refer both to the internal and external institutionalization of the 5SM which as processes were triggered by its involvement embroiled in coalition politics in the parliamentary arena and the establishment of parliamentary groups after the 2013 elections.