Movement parties and the crisis of representation

This course explores the emergence, development, and transformation of so-called “movement parties” in contexts marked by crises of political representation. It focuses on party actors that emerge directly or indirectly from social movements, maintain links with them, or engage with them for strategic reasons. The course examines how these actors challenge conventional forms of politics while simultaneously adapting to the institutional constraints of electoral competition and government. Adopting a diachronic and comparative approach, the course investigates cases from Latin America, the United States, and Europe. It is addressed to scholars of both political parties and social movements who are interested in the interaction between institutional politics and politics from below.

The course is organised around seven main topics. The first class introduces the concept of the “movement party” as developed in the literature on social movements and political parties. It will also consider whether movement parties retain their original characteristics over time or whether processes of institutionalisation, professionalisation, and electoral competition transform their organisational forms and political practices, bringing them closer to a more conventional party model.

The second class examines the role of movement parties in “critical junctures”, with particular reference to moments of political, economic, and social crisis understood as windows of opportunity for the emergence of new forms of political organisation.

The following two classes focus respectively on movement parties of the left and on the contested question of whether, and in what ways, the concept can be applied to parties of the right.

The fifth class asks whether contemporary examples of movement parties still exist in the current critical juncture marked by polycrisis, with particular attention to the Green Party in the United Kingdom.

A further class addresses the relationship between movement parties and digitalisation, focusing on online participation, internal democracy, and digital platforms.

The final meeting is devoted to the empirical study of movement parties and addresses the methodological challenges involved in analysing hybrid party models.

Duration and Period

20 hours, divided into 7 classes; First Term.

The course will take place from 6 November to 18 December 2026.

Each class will deal with a specific theme:

1. The concept of the movement party
2. Movement parties in critical junctures
3. Movement parties of the left
4. Movement parties of the right?
5. Still movement parties?
6. Movement parties and digitalisation
7. Some methodological notes

Format

The course will be taught in a seminar format, with weekly discussions based on a selection of readings addressing theoretical perspectives and empirical case studies on movement parties. Each class will be introduced by the lecturer or a guest speaker and followed by a collective discussion of the assigned texts.

Participants are expected to engage actively with the material, offer critical reflections on the readings, and contribute to group discussions. Connections with participants’ own research projects are strongly encouraged. Students may also propose and present a topic of their own interest, thereby contributing to the development of the course in a collaborative and dialogic manner.

A mailing list including all participants will be created to facilitate internal communication and the exchange of ideas. Participants are asked to check their email regularly and respond promptly to communications.