The Left after the EU Elections: New Challenges

The goal of the workshop is to analyze the new relationship of political forces in Europe within the EU and its member countries, and to draw conclusions for the European Left Party in particular countries and regions, and also for the strengthening of the Europeanization of struggles.

The aim is to “tell it like it is” – to present the strengths and weaknesses of European left parties, and discuss their strategic options for future struggles. This includes the deepening of the knowledge around concrete challenges faced by the Left in particular countries of Europe.

Key questions

· How have the political relations of forces in Europe, and especially within the European Union, changed since 2009? How should the results for the left parties be considered in the context of the entire spectrum? Which possibilities for the organization and implementation of leftist political approaches will become apparent at the European level in light of the results of the EU elections?

· Where have the left parties been successful, and which concrete conditions have been the foundations for their success? Which new forms of struggle, electoral alliances and socio-political alliances have proven themselves, or have emerged anew? What role has the attempt at personalization played with regard to the new possibility of electing the Commission President, and could it be useful for the left parties?

· Can tentative statements regarding the effects of left electoral offers, and regarding the nature of the electorate which supports the left parties, be formulated? How can a stronger Europeanization of struggles be achieved by using and expanding national struggles?

· How have the left parties’ possibilities for developing an alternative political agenda developed?

These and other questions are to be discussed at the workshop.

In the first block, the new conditions/new contexts of the European elections, and the capabilities of the left parties to respond adequately to these conditions, are to be discussed.

In a second part, the concrete conditions and challenges facing the left and its results in the EU election are to be presented and discussed, using the examples of selected country studies.

A third step will address possible paths for strengthening the Europeanization of the struggles, in the course of an evaluation of the electoral campaigns and the results of the EU elections.

· What answers does the Left have for all these developments? How are they being perceived, and which alternative strategies are being developed? Which strategies has the Left Party pursued nationally and at the European level, and on which alliances can it depend in that regard?

· What are the strengths of radical left parties in comparison with the social democrats, the greens, the conservatives and the right wing? What are the key elements of their strengths and of their weaknesses; what are the conditions for success of left parties today, and who are their allies, both at the societal and at the political levels?

· Which conclusions must left parties draw from the elections for the European Parliament? What are their strengths? How can the weaknesses of left parties be realistically addressed, both at the national and at the European levels?

The following three thematic blocks are proposed:

1. Current challenges to Europe
Discussion of current challenges regarding European developments before and during the EU electoral campaign.

2. How should the results of the left parties be assessed?
Assessments from the particular countries of the EU, and based on that, a comprehensive overview; development of tendencies and possible scenarios.

3. Conclusions for the formulation of strategic goals and the formation of new national and European alliances
The results will in conclusion be presented and discussed at the Summer University of the European Left Party.

The WS starts on Monday, 21 July, 19:00

Accomodation: InterCityHotel am Ostbahnhof, Am Ostbahnhof 5, 10243 Berlin