The practical test for the Connective Party

A discussion with Dario Azzelini (PROKLA 181/2015)

Abstract

This article critically responds to Dario Azzelinis’ essay in PROKLA 181 and discusses new strategies to reorganize the relationship between left-wing political parties and social movements. It has always been a contested question how this relation should look like. Concepts about new types of party-movement relations like the Mosaic Left or the Connective Party try to rethink the tension theoretically while in practice, new developments in Greece and Spain seem to promise an important step towards building new connections. This article tries to analyze progress and problems, even failures, and to draw lessons for developing new theories and future political practises.