Abstract
In the digital age, new ways of interaction provide a new type of public sphere which has dramatically changed party politics. This includes not only the modernisation and professionalisation of mainstream political parties but also paves the way for new challengers and a new dimension of campaigning. The current examples, the Pirate Party, especially in Germany, and the Five Star Movement of Beppe Grillo, show at least short-term potential. The Pirate Party caused a media hype about the young activists. Grillo transcended the borders between comedy and politics without the helping hand of the traditional media, which ignored him. The threat for representative democracies lies in the growing anti-elitism which is combined in the Pirates and Grillo. Mainstream political parties should indicate that the claim for a new participatory politics beyond right and left is a utopian one, while attacking the way that party politics works.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bartlett, J., Froio, C., Littler, M., & McDonnell, D. (2013). Social media is changing politics across Europe. New political actors in Europe: Beppe Grillo and the MFS. London: Demos.
Brandau, B. (2013). Fünf Sterne gegen Berlusconi, Das Movimento 5 Stelle und sein Weg in die italienische Politik. Stuttgart: Ibidem.
Der Spiegel. (2012). Avanti Dilettanti. Wie die Piraten Politik versuchen. 23 April.
Dirani, D. (2012). Niente dissenso: E Grillo espelle dal M5S gli ‘eretici’ Salsi e Favia. Il Sole 24 ore, 12 December. http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2012-12-12/niente-dissenso-grillo-espelle-115756.shtml?uuid=AbklfKBH. Accessed 12 March 2013.
Dobusch, L., & Gollatz, K. (2012). Piraten zwischen transnationaler Bewegung und lokalem Phänomen. In C. Bieber & C. Leggewie (eds.), Unter Piraten (pp. 25–40). Bielefeld: Transcript.
Grillo, B. (2013). Wir bringen das System zum Einsturz! (Interview with Beppe Grillo). Focus, 4 March, 41–5.
Hartleb, F. (2012). All tomorrow’s parties: The changing face of European party politics. Brussels: Centre for European Studies.
Hartleb, F. (2013). More ‘dilettanti’ than ‘avanti’: The shocking success hype of the Pirate Party. Centre for European Studies Blog. http://thinkingeurope.eu/blog/more-%E2%80%9Cdilettanti%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%9Cavanti%E2%80%9D-stocking-success-hype-pirate-party. Accessed 13 March 2013.
Jun, U. (2004). Der Wandel von Parteien in der Mediendemokratie: SPD und Labour Party im Vergleich. Frankfurt am Main: Campus.
Niedermayer, O. (ed.). (2013). Die Piratenpartei. Wiesbaden: Springer.
Römmele, A. (2012). Electronical political campaigning. In N. Kesting (ed.), Electronic democracy (pp. 103–124). Opladen: Barbara Budrich.
Schramm, J. (2012). Klick mich. Bekenntnisse einer Internet-Exhibitonistin. München: Knaus Verlag.
The Guardian. (2008). The world’s 50 most powerful blogs. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/mar/09/blogs. Accessed 13 March 2013.
Weber, M. (1992). Politik als Beruf. Stuttgart: Reclam.
Weisband, M. (2013). Wir nennen es Politik. Ideen für eine zeitgemäße Demokratie. Stuttgart: Tropen Verlag.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Hartleb, F. Digital campaigning and the growing anti-elitism: the Pirates and Beppe Grillo. European View 12, 135–142 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12290-013-0252-8
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12290-013-0252-8