Radical Left Parties and National Identity in Spain, Italy and Portugal

This book investigates how the radical left navigates the terrain of nationalism. Traversing Spain, Italy and Portugal, this in-depth study examines how radical left parties either embrace, rebuff or reshape nationalistic sentiments. From Spain's Podemos grappling with Franco's legacy, Italy's radical left switching from anti-fascist patriotism to cosmopolitanism, to Portugal's revolutionary echoes in left-leaning banal nationalism, the book offers comprehensive insight into the often-overlooked relationship between radical left politics and national identity. Through discourse analysis, interviews and participant observation, it delves into the reasons behind certain political positions and how they manifest discursively. A must-read for those eager to decipher the crossroads of national identity and left-wing politics in contemporary Europe.

Draws on discourse analysis, semi structured interviews and participant observation Brings together nationalism studies and party politics scholarship Shows the relationship between the radical Left and national identity to be complex and multifaceted

Autorentext

Jacopo Custodi is a Research Fellow in Political Science at Scuola Normale Superiore in Florence, Italy. He has authored numerous scholarly essays and scientific articles that explore the intricate relationship between the left and national identity.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. Conceptual Framework.- 3. Setting the Scene: The Radical Left and the Nation.- 4. The Spanish Case. What Is Spain ? Franco's Legacy and Podemos' Patriotism.- 5. The Italian Case. Italy's Wheezing Left Between the Shadow of Its Past and New Challenges.- 6. The Portuguese Case. Left-Leaning Banal Nationalism in Portugal.- 7. Comparing the Results.- 8. Conclusion.