PANEL PROPOSAL – IPSA 24th World Congress of Political Science. July 23-28, 2016 | Istanbul

Issue diversity, strategic framing and repertoires of action: assessing the ‘normalcy’ of radical parties and movements in Europe.

The consolidation of radical organisations suggests that their responses to the establishment are an intrinsic feature of contemporary democracy. So far, their success depended on the ability to politicise issues neglected by the mainstream, such as Euroscepticism, opposition to migration, environmentalism, etc. Confronted with new socioeconomic and political conditions, and challenged by mainstream parties’ co-optation tactics, these organisations had to find new ways to capitalise on anti-establishment dissent. Hence, they reshaped their platforms and strategies to keep the political mainstream at a distance. Strategic adaptation prompted changes at three levels: first, radical actors broadened and articulated their palette of issues. Second, they set up new communication and framing strategies to set their discourse apart from that of mainstream actors. Third, they explored alternative modes of action beyond electoral politics, anticipating media preferences and often endorsing protest strategies. The panel sets to investigate these dynamics by bringing together comparative contributions focusing on the supply and/or demand side of radical politics. How did radical parties and movements change over time in terms of issue preferences, framing and repertoires of action? How did their supporters respond to these changes? How did the media react to these strategies? The panel particularly welcomes contributions willing to bridge qualitative and quantitative lines of enquiry.

Organisers: Andrea Pirro, University of Siena Pietro Castelli Gattinara, Robert Schuman Center for Advanced Studies, EUI Caterina Froio, Centre d’Etudes Europeennes, Sciences-Po Paris

Interested participants are invited to contact Andrea Pirro (andreapirro@unisi.it), Pietro Castelli Gattinara (pietro.castelli@eui.eu), and Caterina Froio (caterina.froio@eui.eu) Language: English Internal deadline for proposals: 1 October 2015 For more information: http://www.ipsa.org/istanbul2016

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