tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579189847356587096.post7340575131418143843..comments2024-02-14T11:30:29.227-08:00Comments on Facts For Working People: The Nature of the New European LeftRichard Mellorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00997976754939725087noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579189847356587096.post-8829346869446682892015-11-18T10:31:51.031-08:002015-11-18T10:31:51.031-08:00Thanks for raising this point Brendan. The develop...Thanks for raising this point Brendan. The development of the left in Italy certainly is a complex and unusual situation. As I say in the discussion paper, the rise in support for the anti-establishment, Five Star Movement, led by the popular comedian, Beppe Grillo, which has described itself as a populist party outside traditional left-right politics is a vague and somewhat bizarre manifestation of the shift to the left in the country, compared to other Southern European nations. <br /><br />The left in Italy is in total crisis. Back in the 1970s, the Italian Communist Party was not only the biggest left party, it was the biggest of all the parties in Italy, getting 35% of the vote. But after the fall of Stalinism it shattered into pieces, and the once might Left in Italy literally disintegrated into a plethora of tiny groups, from which it has never recovered. One of the biggest groups to split from the Italian CP, was Rifondazione Comunista (PRC), which is the main force within one of the groups you mention - Sinistra Ecologia Liberta. Although there are also 5 small other groups within it, it is still really dominated by the PRC. <br /><br />Sinistra Ecologia Liberta hasn't seen the same huge rise in support which other New Left groups in Europe have. Indeed, in the 1990s, the PRC got 9% of the vote, three times higher than today. It can now only muster 3% of the vote. The same is true of the other group you mention L'Alta Europa, which has only been able to win a maximum 4% of the vote so far. I don't think it is possible to compare them to the “New Left” like the Left Block and CUD in Portugal with 20% of the vote or Podemos with up to 28% support and SYRIZA with 36% of the vote, or, for that matter with Die Linke or Front de Gauche which get 11-12% of the vote. <br /><br />There are hundreds of small groups in Europe like Sinistra Ecologia Liberta with between 1%-3% support. In Britain alone there at about 35! You could add up all their votes and it might look impressive, but in fact that doesn't mean they lead any significant movements. <br /><br />If Sinistra Ecologia Liberta or L'Alta Europa had the same impact in Italian politics, which Podemos or SYRIZA have had in Spain and Greece, I would have mentioned them in the discussion paper. I don't rule out that Sinistra Ecologia Liberta or L'Alta Europa could grow in the future, but at this moment I wouldn't include them as part of the surge to the New Left.<br /><br />Nevertheless, the point of these articles which make up the full discussion paper is to precisely to discuss and that includes raising questions, making points or disagreeing with things. That helps to correct, qualify and understand things. Its how knowledge grows. So thanks for adding to the discussion Brendan.<br /><br />the author, Stephen Morgan in Brussels.Stephen Morgannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579189847356587096.post-31792623266821415992015-11-17T19:57:23.204-08:002015-11-17T19:57:23.204-08:00What about Sinistra Ecologia Liberta and L'Alt...What about Sinistra Ecologia Liberta and L'Alta Europa in Italy?brendandavisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15481921254037581768noreply@blogger.com