Ideology
Based on media coverage, sources are divided regarding the movement's association with violence. Il Fatto Quotidiano and Il Risveglio described the group in its early stages as factionalized between a reformist wing and a maximalist wing, characterizing the latter as prone to violence and influenced by the political models of Karl Marx and the French Revolution. Conversely, Corriere della Sera reported that the movement was divided between debating students and automated accounts, noting that the student faction reportedly rejected proposals for violent action whenever they were introduced. In an interview by TgCom24, an anonymous member of the movement described the attacks on shops in central Milan as a consequence of the "irrational anger" stemming from the material conditions of certain individuals. The member did not condemn the actions and stated that future targets chosen by the movement and the public would be approached more "rationally." Bertolt Brecht was cited various instances within the channels of the movement, specifically his quote "He who fights risks losing, he who doesn't fight has already lost" embraced by some members, despite its role as a possible ideological influence being unknown.
Manifesto
The manifesto of the 17 October Movement was published on its Instagram page on 19 October 2026 and is divided into nine points. These consist of distrust in the Meloni government due to its alleged authoritarian tendencies, distrust in opposition political parties and syndicates (which the group characterizes as part of the institutional system it opposes and accuses of instrumentalizing protests) as well as decentralization, anti-fascism, and the transformation of public square protests into areas for debating ideas so that participants can take their future into their own hands.
