The first German-language publication on the Italian political phenomenon Movimento 5 Stelle. In many European countries, organizations have emerged in recent years that see themselves as an alternative to the conventional offerings of the party system and have been successful in elections. This is also the case recently in Italy with the Movimento 5 Stelle. Founded in 2009 by the well-known comedian Beppe Grillo, it is poised to shake up the Italian party system in the post-Berlusconi era. To what extent is the emergence of the Movimento a response to the political circumstances in Italy at the beginning of the 21st century? Bastian Brandau analyzes Grillo's significance for the party and provides insightful glimpses into the heavily internet-based democratic practices of the Movimento, always questioning whether this is a project with a short lifespan.