Meloni supporters inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien

The World

Giorgia Meloni’s path to power has been a long one, starting in the political summer camps of her youth. You might call it an “Unexpected Journey,” which is a nod to the subtitle from “The Hobbit,” J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic fantasy novel about good vs. evil. Meloni, and many in her far-right coalition are huge “Lord of the Rings” fans to this day, and attended Hobbit Camp as youth. And, as Gerry Hadden reports, the mythological world Tolkien created underpins their world-view.

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