Abstract

This article discusses the use of the internet in politics focusing in particular on the case of the Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S). A description of a new organizational model called «cybercratic centralism» vis-a-vis other ways of online organization is provided. Problems concerning online polling on Grillo's blog are then examined, stressing their limits in terms of transparency and participation. Two specific cases are presented as being particularly telling of M5S online democratic practices: the selection of candidates to the Italian parliament and the membership to a political group in the European parliament. The most recent organizational developments of Grillo's party are finally examined, underlying the enduring problems of such model.