ALFÖLDI LÁSZLÓ. Kolozsvártól Bukarestig. Egy magyar diplomata visszaemlékezései [From Cluj-Napoca to Bucharest. Memoirs of a Hungarian Diplomat]. Budapest: Kisebbségekért‒Pro Minoritate Alapítvány ‒ Méry Ratio Kiadó. 2022. 251 p. GHEORGHE ALBUȚ. Un diplomat român la Budapesta (1981-1990 și după aceea…) [A Romanian Diplomat in Budapest. (1981-1990 and after that…)]. București: Corint Istorie. 2023. 256 p.
This research examines the mobilization strategies employed by Vetëvendosje, a left-wing political party in Kosovo, as it transitioned from a grassroots anti-establishment movement to a governing party. In the context of socio-economic inequality, democratic instability, and the legacy of post-communism, the study examines how populist mobilization serves as both a political tool and electoral strategy for social movements transitioning into political parties. Thus, it raises the following research questions: What factors enabled Vetëvendosje to maintain institutional legitimacy after its transition? How did populist mobilization influence its ideology and electoral outcomes? Through process tracing and content analysis of party manifestos, the research evaluates the evolution of populist discourse and its impact on electoral performance. By analyzing changes in identity and narrative within Vetëvendosje, this study contributes to broader discussions on social movements and the transformation of left-wing parties in post-communist societies.
The book opens with an artifice that stimulates the reader's curiosity: “at the same time and everywhere “is an attention grabber that reveals the meaning and role of the book: a chronicle of different perspectives on the seminal events for the last two years. What prefigures the reading of the book is also mentioned in the title, as a leitmotif and a captatio benevolentiae: the turning point recalls another important theme recurrently mentioned by the former President of the United States Joe Biden in his speeches: the “inflection point.” This inflection point is constituted, in fact, by successive transformations undergone by the contemporary world as an acceleration of History, with a capital letter, and to which we become both witnesses, and participants, in a deeply polarizing, radicalized environment, directly experiencing every action almost immediately. This inflection of history written before our eyes has different meanings, which can be discovered by observing some details or facts that the author proves he can understand with acuity, throughout this volume.
The Left in Albania has long been synonymous with the communist successor, most notably represented by the Socialist Party of Albania (SPA). Emerging from the Cold War era, the SPA inherited not only the ideological framework, but also the political dominance that had been characteristic of communist rule. Over the past three decades, the SPA has remained one of Albania’s two dominant political parties, blending elements of socialist ideology with certain authoritarian tendencies. This legacy has contributed to an ideological and democratic void that other parties, particularly extra-parliamentary ones, have sought to fill. Among these, the Movement Together (MT) and the Hashtag Initiative (HI) have emerged as significant actors. Given the scarcity of comprehensive scholarship on Albania’s political landscape, this paper presents Albania as a case study to define and classify communist successor and other left-wing parties, drawing on frameworks applied in Central and Eastern Europe. The paper compares the platforms and political rhetoric of the SPA, MT, and HI, with a particular focus on the SPA’s conduct while in government. Moreover, the internal characteristics of these parties is examined to provide a nuanced understanding of Albania’s domestic political environment and what defines the Left in Albania.
This study explores the legacy of the communist welfare state in Poland and its impact on contemporary social democracy. It examines how Polish leftist parties have engaged with the socio-economic achievements of the Polish People’s Republic (PRL) while navigating post-communist political cleavages. Through historical and comparative analysis, the paper investigates how Polish social democracy has used its communist heritage in shaping its policy agenda, particularly regarding welfare provisions such as housing, education, and healthcare. The findings suggest that while the Polish left has at times strategically employed the achievements of the PRL in political discourse, recent shifts – marked by a retreat from this historical narrative – have weakened its electoral appeal. The study raises questions about whether Polish social democracy can leverage its historical legacy to advocate for a stronger welfare state in an era of neoliberal dominance.
