Programmatic change in Southern European radical left parties: The impact of a decade of crises (2010–2019)

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ABSTRACT The 2008 economic crisis brought new scholarly attention to Southern European radical left parties (SERLPs). Yet, important aspects of these parties remain empirically unexplored, such as their programmatic development. Using empirical data from party manifestos, this article examines the programmatic evolution of SERLPs during the 2010s – a decade full of crises (economic, migration, climate). Despite their different trajectories on various policy dimensions, the results suggest that these parties were able to adapt their programmatic appeals to capitalize on poor economic conditions and growing discontent with the EU, while showing signs of being attentive to the emergence of new issues on the public agenda – such as anti-growth concerns. Moreover, they also provide support for a moderating effect of government participation (and proximity to power) on RLPs.