italian-studies: Scholarly discussions in any field of Italian studies
Where's the party? Restructuring, organization and membership
Panel co-sponsored by the Italian Politics Specialist Group of the UK Political Studies Association (PSA) and the Società Italiana di Scienza Politica (SISP) Standing Group on Italian Party Transformations in Comparative Perspective
SISP Annual Conference - Venice 16-18 September 2010
Section: Sistema politico italiano (Convenors: Mauro Calise and Carlo Guarnieri)
Chairs: Aldo Di Virgilio (Bologna) and Duncan McDonnell (Birmingham/Torino)
ABSTRACT
Party change and crisis has been a key theme for political science in recent decades, in particular as regards the capacity of European parties to adapt to a series of new structural challenges. Amongst the indicators presented as highlighting party crisis (and, hence, a crisis of representation) is the changed relationship between parties and territory, with membership and grassroots activity having been shown to be in decline across Western Europe. Put simply, the relationship between parties and their members has changed in terms of what parties and their members do within their relationship and how each views the role of the other. In this sense, Italy provides a fascinating case-study of party transformation given the events of the past two decades which have seen enormous and ongoing changes not only in the composition of the party system itself, but also in how new (or reconverted) parties organize at all levels, how they interact with their members and how, more broadly, party culture, leadership and the public significance of the party have been transformed.
The aim of this panel is to examine the above issues primarily in relation to the Italian case. We therefore particularly welcome papers in Italian or English which examine (a) the internal life of parties at grassroots level; (b) the roles and interactions of party elites, elected representatives and activists/members; (c) the involvement (or non-involvement) of members in decision-making and candidate selection processes. Papers may focus on single-party studies or adopt comparative perspectives with other Italian and European parties. Preference will be given to those papers which are based on original and recent empirical research. Those wishing to participate should send their paper title, affiliation and an abstract of no more than 300 words by 1 June 2010 to [log in to unmask] and [log in to unmask]
James L. Newell
Professor of Politics
Associate Head Teaching, ESPaCH
University of Salford
Crescent House
Salford M5 4WT
UK
tel: +44 (0)161 295 5660
http://jlnewell.com <http://jlnewell.com/>
Editor, Bulletin of Italian Politics
http://www.gla.ac.uk/bip
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