New Politics in Portugal: The Rise and Success of the Left Bloc

In: Pôle sud: revue de science politique, Band 1, Heft 30, S. 127-144

Abstract

This paper aims at analyzing the rise of left-libertarian parties in a late modernizer country, focusing on the emergence and relative success of the Left Block (BE). According to post-materialist or structural theories, Portugal does not display favorable conditions for the emergence of new left parties. Despite this, the BE was able to raise successfully new politics issues, increasing its electoral performance and its impact on the political system. The findings show that the institutional opportunities played an important role, especially in the formative years, to improve party performance. Moreover, party leadership is a significant asset not only in the electoral arena but also for the strategic adaptation. Overall, this case reveals that new left parties can emerge also in late modernizer countries, although partially diverging from left-libertarian parties in old democracies. Adapted from the source document.