Expatriate voting: the shifting approach of Italian policy makers since 2001

This study explored the motivations as drivers that encouraged Italian policy makers to introduce the expatriate voting policy in Italy in 2001. This research analyses the issues identified by policy makers in relation to this expatriate voting policy and its first real implementation in 2006 for Italian citizens residing abroad. This study also provides a new and original perspective in the analysis of political transnationalism and highlights the role and (self) interest of political parties in relation to the political engagement of expatriate communities with their home country.