Document Type
Social Sciences
Abstract
The aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis left Europe in a state of shock, out of which political transitions occurred across the country. One of these transitions was the rise of left-wing populist parties. Their rise was most successful in Southern Europe, particularly in Spain and Greece. In these two countries, left-wing populist parties gained power swiftly and eventually began governing their respective governments. This essay compares the rise of Podemos in Spain and SYRIZA in Greece by looking at the main reasons for their mass popularity. The comparison reveals that the 2008 crisis was at the core of the reason for the rise of left-wing populism but in different capacities in each country. In Spain, it was the perception bad economic performance what drove people to vote for Podemos, whereas Greeks voted for SYRIZA because of personal financial struggles.
Recommended Citation
Iturri Calvo, Daniel
(2020)
"The Rise of Left-Wing Populism in Europe: A Comparative Study,"
Global Tides: Vol. 14, Article 5.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/globaltides/vol14/iss1/5
