CHANGING EUROPE. Syriza, Podemos & New Progressive Alliances. The New European Left II

Maria Eleni Koppa, Panteion University Athens
Monica Clua-Losada, Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Elena Papadopoulou, Scientific Advisor to Parliamentary Group SYRIZA

Robert Misik, Journalist and Author

What goal should the democratic left in Europe aim for? This question arises not only in the wake of the financial crash of 2008 and in light of the general austerity policy espoused in response among the ranks of the left, and not only classical economic concepts arouse controversy. In addition the issue as to what organizational forms are still in keeping with the present times is crucial.
New movements are emerging, and at the same time present a challenge to the traditional social democratic camp. Citizens often have the impression that all life has been drained from the parties representing the classical workers’ movement. However, modernization concepts have frequently had exactly the opposite effect of what had been hoped for, as they eroded the base of voters and followers.
In Greece, the social democratic forces have meanwhile been replaced by a new left-wing force, whilst in other countries New Leftist parties have emerged as rivals of the social democratic camp.

Maria Eleni Koppa is Assistant Professor at the Department of International, European and Area Studies of Panteion University and author of several articles on minority issues, democratization, nationalism and European politics, with a preference for comparative approaches. Koppa was a member of the S&D Group in the European Parliament from October 2007 until July 2014, focusing foreign policy.

Monica Clua-Losada is a lecturer at the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. Her research focuses on Critical Political Economy (CPE) and the role of subaltern groups. She has collaborated as an activist-researcher with different social movements, such as the Movement against Home Forclosures in Spain.

Elena Papadopoulou is an economist. She is Scientific Advisor to the SYRIZA Group in the Greek Parliament. Until 2012 she was researcher at the Nicos Poulantzas Institute and at the Department of Economics of the University of Athens.