ERRANT was articulated in two case studies with an identical design. 6 months of permanence in the two cities selected as case-studies. During my presence on the fields, following the ethnographic approach, I tried to obtain a thick description and a global vision of the two cities selected as case studies, by conducting participant observation of public and political local life. I collected interviews with party members (militants; local representatives; local leaders) and with the main civil society ‘s opponents, identified during my stay as the most active subjects in the countermobilization against the two local administrations.
This lengthy ethnographic immersion allowed me to shed light on the organisational forms of the two parties in the two contexts and their territorial anchorage. In addition, I was able to analyse the complex dynamics of interaction between central party levels and local ones. I also enucleated differences and similarities between the two forces in terms of organization, strategies, political culture. Interviews with militants and leaders made it possible to identify the ideological, value and cultural aspects that shape the partisan communities and their shared narratives, while also shedding light on internal tensions and conflicts. Particular attention was paid to the processes of gender cultures and practices.
A particularly innovative element of the project, important from the point of view of its public impact, consisted in the study of the socio-political polarisation between the two administrations and progressive actors of the two local civil societies. Through interviews with the most active members of these groups, it was possible to reconstruct the mechanisms of these conflictual processes, as well as the counterposition of values, visions and narratives narratives. This is of particular importance in a context of the overall growth of the PRR, but also of the social conflictuality linked to its progressive access to the mainstream.
The project enjoyed good dissemination and visibility within the scientific community, thanks to participation in international conferences and invited presentations at research centres and universities. Special attention was paid to public engagement, given the public relevance of the research topics. In particular, several initiatives were carried out with civil society actors active in contrasting discrimination (particularly ethnic and gender based), and promoting values of inclusion and equality. Special attention was also paid to dissemination in the world of youth, through presentations with youth associations and in schools.
