Strategic Perspectives of the European Left (1): “Why the Crisis Seems to Favour Rather the Right than the Left in Europe?”

12-13 March 2010, transform!europe will host a seminar in Mallorca entitled “Why the Crisis Seems to Favour the Right Rather than the Left in Europe”. The debate, which will start out with a general assessment of the political geography, will be followed by a number of thematic focuses and case studies on different countries such as the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

“Why the Crisis Seems to Favour Rather the Right than the Left in Europe?”

The recent economic crisis, among other things, have showed the serious crisis of the European Social Democracy, as well as the inability of “our” Left (with some interesting exceptions) to increase its influence in society. This can be seen not only from the fact that the agenda for facing the crisis is set by the conservative European political forces, but also by the election results for the European Parliament. Thus the questions arises with urgency how the Left in Europe can develop the capacity of becoming an effective counter-hegemonic force. Actually this will be the focus of the seminar.

The workshop takes place in

Hotel Continental

Carrer Indústria 10

07013 Palma (Mallorca), Spain

Transportation to and from the airport PMI by bus,

line 1.

 

Deadline for registration: February,

28th via E-Mail:

office@transform-network.net

Please note, that we only can cover the cost of catering during the seminar, but not airfares and accommodation.

International workshop by transform! europe

Palma, 12th-- 13th March 2010

 

>>>> please see attachment

? I take part in the workshop

? I will prepare/sent a contribution about ____________________

_____________________________________________________

? I need accommodation (Hotel Continental € 90/night) from ________ to _____

= _____ night(s)

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Surname

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Organisation/Country

 

Agenda

Friday, 12 March

15.00 - 15.30

 

Welcome and opening

Javier Navascues, FIM

 

Introduction: A participative transform! Project. Methodological and Other Issues

Haris Golemis, NPI

 

15.30 – 17.15

1st Session

 

The Validity of the Claim: Results of Elections held in Europe during 2009: Walter Baier, TE

 

The Electoral Crisis of Social Democracy: The Great Retreat of the European Social Democratic Parties (1950-2009):

Gerassimos Moschonas, Greece

 

Discussion

 

17.30 – 21.00

2nd Session

 

Country Case Studies: Effects of the Crisis on the Left in Various EU countries - Short presentations of Political Foundations’ Reports: Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal Spain, Sweden

Discussion

 

Saturday, 13 March

09.00 – 10.00

Presentation: The Situation of the Left in Spain

Discussion

10.15 – 12.30

3rd Session

Can the Left in Europe Produce an Effective hegemonic Project to Overcome the Crisis?

(Part I)

 

- Financial, Economic and Social Crisis: Dangers and Opportunities: Richard Detje, Germany

 

- Structural Social Changes and the Issue of a New “Social Block” Stephen Bouquin, France

 

- Gender Relations in a Hegemonic Left Project

Silke Ötsch, Austria

 

Discussion

 

13.30 – 16.00

Thus the questions arises with urgency how the Left in Europe can develop the capacity of becoming an effective counter-hegemonic force. (Part II)

 

- The Ecological Crisis –A Credible Left Position as a Prerequisite of a Progressive Hegemony

Inger V.Johansen, Denmark

 

- The Role of the State and Supra-State Institutions in a Progressive Hegemonic Project

John Grahl, United Kingdom

 

Discussion

 

16.30 – 18.00

4th Session

 

A Debate to Summarize Case and Thematic Studies: Elisabeth Gauthier + Haris Golemis

Closing of the seminar

 

18.15 – 19.30

Work Meeting on the Next Parts of the Project