The complex trajectory of Europe after the 2008 global financial crisis, has led to the catastrophic failure of deep austerity measures that swept across the Union, and is reflected in the rise of some radical left parties such as SYRIZA as well as an unfortunate rise in far right and nationalist parties and movements. This collection brings together a group of European scholars and activists from various European countries to discuss the recent economic, political, and electoral changes in respective countries, and the current status and future plans of radical left parties and movements. This book fills a significant gap within the current literature in the English-speaking world on post-2008 Europe, featuring a nation-based European wide survey of the current activities and plans of radical Left parties and movements in relation to the mounting social, political, and economic problems in Europe. This book contributes to the discussion by presenting a realistic depiction of the existing radical Left forces in Europe. This title was previously published as a special issue of Socialism and Democracy.

Introduction : social movements and radical politics in the European periphery : a world-systems analysis / Beltrán Roca, Emma Martin-Diaz and Iban Diaz-Parra -- Radical left in Portugal and Spain (1960-2010) / Julio Pérez Serrano -- Greece and Italy after the Second World War : contentious politics, cycles of protest and radical left / Nikos Serdedakis, Elisabetta della Corte and Markos Vogiatzoglou -- Indignados, municipalism and Podemos : mobilization and political cycle in Spain after the great recession / Iban Diaz-Parra, Emma Martin-Diaz y Beltrán Roca -- Political opportunities, threats, and opportunism : examining Syriza's rise in crisis-ridden Greek politics / Kostas Kanellopoulos -- Building the "contraption" : anti-austerity movements and political alternative in Portugal / Elísio Estanque, Hermes Augusto Costa and Dora Fonseca -- When the spring is not coming : the political space left empty by the Italian leftist movements during the contemporary economic crisis / Luca Queirolo Palmas and Simone Castellani -- Conclusions : learning from the economic crisis and the protest cycle in the south of Europe : implications for social movements and the left / Emma Martin-Diaz, Iban Diaz-Parra and Beltrán Roca

This timely collection addresses key questions including: How did political parties from the Left respond to the crisis? What does the crisis mean for the relationship between the Left and European Integration, and what does it mean for socialism as an economic, political and social project?

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.

Compiles contributions from leading scholars to analyse how European radical left parties have responded to the ongoing socio-economic crisis that continues to afflict the EU.

A historical analysis of radical left parties and movements in Europe spanning the late 1960s to the anti-austerity movements of the late 2000s

In a world of increasing austerity measures, democratic politics comes under pressure. With the need to consolidate budgets and to accommodate financial markets, the responsiveness of governments to voters declines. However, democracy depends on choice. Citizens must be able to influence the course of government through elections and if a change in government cannot translate into different policies, democracy is incapacitated. Many mature democracies are approaching this situation as they confront fiscal crisis. For almost three decades, OECD countries have - in fits and starts - run deficits and accumulated debt. As a result, an ever smaller part of government revenue is available today for discretionary spending and social investment and whichever party comes into office will find its hands tied by past decisions. The current financial and fiscal crisis has exacerbated the long-term shrinking government discretion; projects for political change have lost credibility. Many citizens are aware of this situation: they turn away from party politics and stay at home on Election Day. With contributions from leading scholars in the forefront of sociology, politics and economics, this timely book will be of great interest to students and scholars throughout the social sciences as well as general readers.