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The ascendance of austerity policies and the protests they have generated have had a deep impact on the shape of contemporary politics. The stunning electoral successes of SYRIZA in Greece, Podemos in Spain and the Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S) in Italy, alongside the quest for a more radical left in countries such as the UK and the US, bear witness to a new wave of parties that draws inspiration and strength from social movements.
The rise of movement parties challenges simplistic expectations of a growing separation between institutional and contentious politics and the decline of the left. Their return demands attention as a way of understanding both contemporary socio-political dynamics and the fundamentals of political parties and representation.
Bridging social movement and party politics studies, within a broad concern with democratic theories, this volume presents new empirical evidence and conceptual insight into these topical socio-political phenomena, within a cross-national comparative perspective.
List of contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. Movement Parties in Times of (Anti)Austerity: An Introduction
Chapter 2. The Genesis of Movement Parties in the Neoliberal Critical Juncture
Chapter 3. Organizational Repertoires of Movement Parties
Chapter 4. Framing Movement Parties
Chapter 5. Comparing Movement Parties' Success and Failures
Chapter 6. Movement Parties: Some Conclusions
Appendix: List of Interviews
Notes
References
About the author
Donatella della Porta is Director of the Centre on Social Movement Studies and Dean of the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Scuola Normale Superiore
Joseba Fernández is an independent researcher, formerly of the Centre on Social Movement Studies at the European University Institute
Hara Kouki is a Research Associate at the European University Institute (Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies)
Lorenzo Mosca is Associate Professor of Political Science in the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Scuola Normale Superiore
Summary
The ascendance of austerity policies and the protests they have generated have had a deep impact on the shape of contemporary politics.
Report
"Austerity policies in Europe have done little to ignite economic growth but have created a firestorm in politics. The volume's expert analysis of the new anti-austerity social movements and political parties makes major theoretical contributions in movement dynamics, as well as illuminating current politics." - Jack A. Goldstone, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University
"The relationship between parties and social movements has always been difficult. The recent domination of neoliberalism and austerity have changed that: a marriage of convenience has become a love affair. The future of the Left depends on the permanence and length of this relationship. This definitive study will become the standard reference in the academic literature and will help party members and militants to understand and strengthen links with each other. In this sense, the volume is a first - both as a scientific achievement and as a guide to action." - Costas Douzinas, University of London and Member for Pireas, Hellenic Parliament