A left guide to the Italian election

A defeated Left tries to recompose
In Italy, the whole left spectrum from communists to greens has lost political representation in the space of one election. What are the lessons that can be learnt from this defeat and how can the left rise again, asks Paolo Gerbaudo

Berlusconi's victory, the disastrous results for the rainbow left - 'a new party born old' - and the increased number of no-voters in this election present new yet anticipated challenges for the radical left in Italy. Hilary Wainwright talked to some of them just before the elections about what lessons they draw from the experience of the left's participation in the Prodi government, about the weakness of the movements after the inspiring highs of Genoa and the Florence European Social Forum and, above all, about new strategies necessary to reach out to the mass of democratically minded but disillusioned Italians - strategies now more relevant than ever.

A rough guide to the Italian political crisis
Italians have often led the way in creating a European left but now they face a crisis at home that could mean the return of Silvio Berlusconi. Hilary Wainwright talks to some of them as they prepare for the April elections.

Balance sheet of the Prodi Government
The Prodi government failed in its promises to rewrite Berlusconi’s controversial labour laws, remunicipalise water and reverse Italy’s militaristic international policies. The result is disillusionment with the left, writes Vittorio Longhi.

Walter Veltroni: projecting Italy as the 'hub' of neoliberal Europe
Walter Veltroni is the main centre-left challenger to Berlusconi in Italy’s general election. As leader of the Democratic Party, he rejects local and social movement campaigns in territorial autonomy and favours making Italy a military and industrial ‘hub’, writes Enzo Mangini.

The Italian left should appeal to the urban middle class
Italy is a right-wing country, where the Vatican retains a strong influence and a majority of the population belong to the urban middle class. The left needs a new appeal to these sectors if it is to challenge Berlusconi, argues Paul Ginsborg.

A new coalition may be the best hope for a weak left
With the centre-left taking a rightward turn, and a fractious left increasingly losing its social base, the prospects for the Italian election look bleak, argues Luciana Castellina.

The crisis of Italy’s political institutions: a view from inside government
Paolo Ferrero was Minister of Social Solidarity in the Prodi Government. He describes here the difficulties of achieving radical reform in the face of a weak coalition, social conservatism and the crisis besetting Italy’s weak political institutions.

We must avoid being absorbed by the State
Paolo Cacciari, a former Rifondazione MP, argues that the left should avoid being ‘absorbed’ by state institutions, and explains how citizens’ associations can work to bring about a new left culture.

Crossing the boundaries between social movements and political institutions
The formation of a new radical left coalition, La Sinstra – L’Arcobaleno, is a political necessity for the forthcoming election. But attempting to win power is not enough, argues Anna Pizzo. Social movement organising and participation remain crucial if politics is to be transformed.

Against Veltrusconi: the challenges facing Italy's 'territorial' social movements
Italy has seen a recent wave of ‘territorial’ social movements, brought together by a crisis of political representation. In the face of an increasingly insecure society, and the appeal of more authoritarian demands, these movements still need to develop a mass base, argues Tommaso Fattori.

Send in the clowns: Italy's 'V-Day'
When mop-haired, finger-wagging comedian Beppe Grillo called for a day of action to tell Italian politicians to ’Go fuck yourself’, huge numbers of people took part. Stefano Decicco reports on the man who organised Italy’s ’V-Day’

Movements and left parties should keep a respectful distance
Alessandra Mecozzi, International Secretary of FIOM, the Italian metalworkers union, reflects on the weakened state of the movements, including the trade union movement, and draws some harsh lessons.

A rought guide to Italy's coalitions, by Ilaria Perlini

Many thanks to Indhira Elsevyf Garcia, Micaeli Mazzei , Ilaria Perlini, Mario Pianta, Mimmo Porcaro and Transform! Italia