Populist Radical Left Parties in Western Europe: Equality and Sovereignty

This book provides a comparative analysis and a systemic categorization of the Populist Radical Left Parties (PRLPs) in Western Europe. Institutional and socio-economic aspects have transformed the political culture of many modern democracies, leading to the creation of radical left-wing parties who, by combining a strongly populist political offer with the historical demands of the traditional left wing, are capable of electoral success. This book analyzes a range of different Populist Radical Left Parties (PRLPs) in Western Europe through in-depth case studies. The author uses statutes, internal documents, programs, election results, membership data, and international political literature combined with interviews with executives and national secretaries to describe and interpret the main features of PRLPs, their paths of formation and political transformation. This volume will appeal to scholars and students of political science and political sociology, media studies and anyone interested in trying to better understand European populism and the distinctions among its different forms. "This book provides a comparative analysis and a systemic categorization of the Populist Radical Left Parties (PRLPs) in Western Europe. So far, the topics of populism and radical left have often been dealt with separately. The innovation of this work lies in the attempt to link the two above-mentioned categories in order to provide a definition of European PRLPs and to highlight their peculiarities. By combining theoretical analysis with empirical evidence, this book studies the process of transition to populism involving several European radical left parties. The author conducted interviews with national party secretaries, party leaders and Members of Parliament of the main PRLPs, and analyses a range of case studies including Podemos (Spain), Syriza (Greece), France insoumise (France), Party of Democratic Socialism and Die Linke (Germany), Socialist Party (Netherland), Workers' Party of Belgium (Belgium) and Sinn Féin (Ireland)"-- Provided by publisher "This book provides a comparative analysis and a systemic categorization of the Populist Radical Left Parties (PRLPs) in Western Europe. So far, the topics of populism and radical left have often been dealt with separately. The innovation of this work lies in the attempt to link the two above-mentioned categories in order to provide a definition of European PRLPs and to highlight their peculiarities. By combining theoretical analysis with empirical evidence, this book studies the process of transition to populism involving several European radical left parties. The author conducted interviews with national party secretaries, party leaders and Members of Parliament of the main PRLPs, and analyses a range of case studies including Podemos (Spain), Syriza (Greece), France insoumise (France), Party of Democratic Socialism and Die Linke (Germany), Socialist Party (Netherland), Workers' Party of Belgium (Belgium) and Sinn Fein (Ireland)"-- Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Contents List of tables List of figures About the author Acknowledgements Introduction 1 Conceptual framework 2 Left-wing populism 3 New identitarian approach 4 Forerunners of populism 5 Ideal-typical populism 6 Populism of government 7 Presidential populism 8 Other left populisms 9 Inside – the internal dimension 10 Outside – the external dimension Conclusions Interviews References Index