Italy’s far right was looking for a way to launder its image. It found the formula in 'The Lord of the Rings'

Italy’s far right, from the MSI to Giorgia Meloni’s circle, turned J.R.R. Tolkien into a political and symbolic reference.

They used anti-communist, anti-modern readings of Tolkien, along with Hobbit camps and public events, to build identity and recruit supporters.

The strategy helped rebrand the movement with seemingly harmless cultural symbols, distancing it from its fascist legacy.

The case shows how popular literature can be repurposed to normalize and market far-right politics.