Europe in Revolt: Mapping the New European Left

by Catarina Principe (Editor), Bhaskar Sunkara (Editor)

In Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain the debt crisis that began with the 2008 global recession helped trigger severe austerity measures—which only worsened economic conditions.

In response, something happened that few outsiders A massive wave of resistance erupted across Europe. With mainstream parties largely discredited by their support of austerity measures, room opened for radicals to offer a left-wing alternative.

Europe in Revolt examines the key parties and figures behind this insurgency, with insider coverage of the roots of the social crisis—and the radicals seeking to reverse it—in Cyprus, England, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

216 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2016

Reviews

[J.J. Amaworo · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the long political journey we call history, Europe has crossed a bridge and lurched right. This fine collection of essays is an appraisal of the stark failure - and some occasional successes - of the European left.

The book consists of short chapters outlining the recent histories of leftist movements and parties in twelve countries. Certain themes recur, such as the decision over whether to remain true to historical leftist principles or to move to the center in search of political power; the interconnectedness of party strategies across national boundaries; and how the shoots of leftist growth are so often illusory. New parties - e.g., Spain's Podemos and Greece's Syriza - rise on a Spring of optimism but are frequently cut short before they bloom.

Some of the more fascinating sections concern the personalities involved. There's an excellent essay on the unlikely rise of Jeremy Corbyn, and interesting takes on Gerry Adams and Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Refreshingly, many pieces in the book are by younger authors who are themselves activists, participants in the struggles, who have stepped back for a moment to take stock. If the outlook is presented as unremittingly bleak, that seems about right. But as David Broder says in the chapter called Resurrecting the Italian Left, "hope always dies last and the future is yet to be built."

This is a shorter version of a review on https://jjawilson.wordpress.com/.

[Adam McPhee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good survey of the Leftist parties of Europe, focusing on their histories, current policies and obstacles, and where they'll go from here. It's a very sober accounting, there's no hiding all the ways the various leftist group have failed and disappointed us over the years, but that just makes the occasional success - and the general feeling of renewed interest - that much more invigorating.

Sunkara and the Jacobin crew are doing a very very good job with these books, folks. Really tremendous. Great stuff. Hand gestures. I hope they'll soon put out another anthology - The Americas in Revolt.

[Rjurik Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to the trials and tribulations of the various Left parties - and the movements on which they're based - in Europe. A survey as much as an analysis, and the limited room means that there isn't quite enough space for in-depth theoretical questions. Still, well done and informative.