Radical Left Parties in Government. The Cases of SYRIZA and AKEL

This book provides a comparative analysis of how two radical left parties achieved government participation and their subsequent political experiences. In the face of the most severe and most prolonged crisis in the history of capitalism, it would be expected for radical left parties to seize the opportunity to promote their political agenda.

Although reality has often confounded prognosis, two particular radical left parties – the Greek SYRIZA and the Cypriot AKEL – were elected to the highest government office. The author uses these two examples to engage with the broader question of what to expect when left-wing radicals achieve governance. This question is now of particular importance given the emergence of radical leftists in other parts of Europe, including Corbyn in the UK and Podemos in Spain.

+ Provides a systematic understanding and analysis of the radical Left as a potential political force in Europe
+ Juxtaposes two parties of similar cultural origins and connected country histories that have never been studied comparatively
+ Contributes to a better understanding of radical left party politics in the EU and more specifically south Europe