The article briefly sketches the development of the studies on media and political communication in Italy, from the parties democracy (or so called First Republic) in which prevails the intra-élite political communication, to the spectacularization of extra-élite and public opinion communication in the berlusconian age, up to transition to a postmodern political communication, of which the pop politics is one of the prominent topics. Particular attention is dedicated to items as electoral campaigning and leadership personalization.
Keywords: Party-centered democracy, intra and extra-élite communication, mediatisation, spectacularization, personalization, pop politics.