Critical junctures and party innovation: the transformation of radical left parties in Greece, Portugal and Spain

This study examines how radical left parties (RLPs) in Greece, Portugal, and Spain have evolved since their countries’ democratic transitions. We analyse whether changes in their programmatic stances and voter base are associated with three major events: the collapse of the Soviet Union, the rise of new left parties, and the European debt crisis. We find no evidence of systematic changes associated with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and some evidence of changes following the European debt crisis (especially on the supply side). The most significant changes were associated with the emergence of new left parties, which altered the way in which the radical left competes with other parties and might have contributed to its political relevance.