ABSTRACT
Within many societies across the world, new social and political movements have sprung up that either challenge formal parliamentary structures of democracy and participation, or work within them and, in the process, fundamentally alter the ideological content of democratic potentials. At the same time, some parliamentary political parties have attracted a new type of ‘populist’ political rhetoric and support base.
This collection, along with its accompanying volume 2, examines the emergence of, and the connections between, these new types of left-wing democracy and participation. Through an array of examples from different countries, it explains why left-wing activism arises in new and innovative spaces in society and how this joins up with conventional left-wing politics, including parliamentary politics. It demonstrates how these new forms of politics can resonate with the real life experiences of ordinary people and thereby win support for left-wing agendas.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|22 pages
Political culture and public spheres of the left
chapter 4|16 pages
Refuse, resist, revolt
part II|2 pages
The state and social movements
chapter 5|20 pages
Peasant revolts and political change in Saint Lucia
chapter 6|18 pages
The return of the left?
chapter 7|19 pages
Social movements, media activism and parliamentary organization
part III|2 pages
The state and leftist parliamentary politics