Cambio en la dinámica interna y desplazamiento hacia el centro: un estudio de caso sobre el Partido de los Trabajadores en Porto Alegre

Abstract

This study starts from the hypothesis that the modifications in the internal life of the Workers’ Party (PT) are related to its displacement towards centrism in the Brazilian political spectrum. These changes seem to have caused a significant reduction of debate spaces and political militancy. In order to test this hypothesis, three profiles of affiliates were built: Militants, Affiliates with Praxis and Pure Affiliates. As a first step, positions that were considered as left-winged in the party debate were systematized. Then, 109 questionnaires were applied and 21 semi-structured interviews with affiliates to the PT in Porto Alegre were conducted. It can be concluded that, indeed, the affiliates who are less active in the party-political life are also less critical of the decisions of their leaders and tend to identify less with the left-wing positions of their party.