so than in Southern Europe.
But the convulsions of crisis should not be mistaken orde roos.
In Southern Europe the developments are entwined with various other factor-in particular the decomposi. tion of Stalinism, national dynamics, as well as the process of European union.
It is undergoing a profound re-composition.
In Greece, the crisis of the social democratic PASOK party and the legacy of Papandreou is more widely linked to changes in national politics. Potential splits are emerging. movement.
In Spain, the PSOE was defeated after a turn to austerity in recent years, but put up a better than expected showing. The United Left alternative, born out of the SpaniseCommunist Party and various left groups falled to make much headway.
Vincent Scheltiens, editor of the Belgian fortnightly Rood, looks at some of the reasons behind its difficulties, Including aspirations to replace PSOE as the main left party and the problem of its relations with the social With the situation remaining unstable, the PSOE will continue to receive mass support and could soon return to office. The IU will have to find a way of relating to this process more effectively.
In Italy the PDS split out of Stalinism has developed rious left alternative. ment. terity programme. on an increasingly right wing trajectory, leaving the class struggle Rifondazione Communista party as the only seThe PDS Is now tied in with the main bourgeols alliances and the project of European Integration. Franco Turigliatto of the Fourth Internationist magazine Bondiera Rossa looks at the effect of the PDS's turn on the workers' movement after the fall of the Dini govern.
In all three countries, social democracy is going through a period of flux. But it has not been defeated, and will continue to play a key role in government and the workers' movement. The left must look to how to intervene into these processes to fight the European austion. The uneven road of a weak democ. racy is transforming itself into a dangerous ioumey towards more complete forms of proxy and towards new forms of authoritarianism. As we arrive at the elections the experience of the last month will weigh like a rock on the consciousness of millions of workers We need a different road. We need to give impulse to the construction of a third pole based around the defence of living standards of workers, the relaunch of an environment campaign and a democratic vision of society. This is the hasis for the relaunch off an anti-capitalist strategy which will oppose the neo-liberal politics of the new government; to join together in the struggle that shook France a few months ago; to oppose economic convergence decided at Maastricht-the screen those who want to destroy the welfare state hide behind. Translated from Bandiera Rossa