The Quiet Rise of the Far-Left

Throughout the past year, the political commentary has focused on the rise of right-wing populism and the success of conservative and alt-right parties. In their fascination with the Right, many in Europe have dismissed the Left as a dying breed, a social movement that once held sway, but has failed to offer an alternative to unfettered capitalism. This paper will examine the electoral successes of Die Linke in Germany, SYRIZA in Greece, and Unidos Podemos in Spain, to push back against this narrative. I will contrast these successes with the poor performances of traditional center left parties, such as the Social Democrats in Germany and the Spanish Socialist Workers Party. Lastly, I will compare certain strategies that have worked well for SYRIZA, Die Linke, and Unidos Podemos and compare these to the reactions of center left parties such as the SPD and the UK Labour Party.