The political life and times of Silvio Berlusconi1 1

Silvio Berlusconi's political life and legacy have left a profound and lasting imprint on Italian politics. Not only as prime minister but also as the leader of his party, he shaped at least two decades of Italian politics. With an 'eccentric' leadership style, Berlusconi approached the roles of party and government leadership in an entirely novel manner. This special issue on the Political Life and Times of Berlusconi deepens our understanding of his significant role in Italian political history. Each article examines a different aspect of his multifaceted leadership, and addresses the challenges of studying a figure as complex and divisive as Berlusconi, who dominated Italian politics for three decades.