The Politics of Protest [week 15]

Green parties

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=caroline+lucas&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=kSSC7ck8XSCG1M&tbnid=AWCQFKUirwaaUM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/may/18/interview-caroline-lucas-green-party&ei=K0w2Ucv_LOSW0QXYmYG4BA&bvm=bv.43148975,d.ZWU&psig=AFQjCNGY68mor0ZneU8QJapRXogsZTl8tw&ust=1362599295391892

SOURCE: guardian.co.uk

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=climate+change&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=78QK4q0jDk9HSM&tbnid=2jtAymkijhd8xM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/11/28/the-uk-was-leading-on-tackling-climate-change-so-why-is-the-government-now-failing-to-act/&ei=L082UZP-PPOb1AXE2YDQAQ&bvm=bv.43148975,d.ZWU&psig=AFQjCNGw2S-owOikVhJJao-8BLXOrDce6w&ust=1362600099556895

Green shoots (tee hee hee): three subcultures come together

1. Anti-establishment left-ism of 1960s2. Alternative subcultures of 1970s

generation3. Distaste for environmental activist tactics

Participatory democracy – some green party characteristics

Distaste for ‘majority votes’Consensus politicsDecentralisationSubsidiarityReluctance to appoint leadersGender equalityInternal referenda

Elected representatives

- Fixed term limits and ‘rotation’- An effort to:

- minimise aloof professionalism- give maximum number of members chance to learn the game of politics- improve communication between members and representatives

Problems with participatory democracy

Two key problems with green parties:-1. only so many individuals willing to

become representatives- 2. representatives forced to step down just as they were getting the

hang of it

The drawbacks of structure and organisation issues

1. National decision-making bodies met only occasionally

2. National councils had few effective decision-making capabilities

3. Names of parties often gave away these trends

Some names of green parties

Green Alliance (Ireland)Ecological Confederation (France)National Federation of Green Lists

(Italy)Federation of Ecological and

Alternative Organisations (Greece)

The drawbacks of structure and organisation issues (cont.)

4. Division between local organisations and national executives5. The problem of incorporating ‘the

next generation’

SOURCE: europa.eu

Notable Green Parties in Europe

Germany – Alliance 90/The GreensFinland – The Green LeagueNetherlands – The Greens and GreenLeftIreland – The Green PartyPoland – Greens 2004Austria – The Greens/Green AlternativeHungary – Politics Can Be DifferentSweden – Green PartyGreen Party of England and WalesThe European Green Party

CONCLUSIONS

1. Background of social movements2. Coalition politics3. The European dimension4. Many strands of protest5. The ultimate unifying issue?