Aufhebunga Bunga

On the rise of the 'digital party'. If politics has become distant from the people, what if a new model of party, leveraging platform technology, could bring the people closer to power? Paolo Gerbaudo talks to us about the various parties and movements innovating new organisational forms - 5 Star Movement, Podemos, the Pirate Parties. They bring in new members and more participation, but what if they also enshrine charismatic leadership? The digital party seems a step forward from the hollowed-out neoliberal parties of the past decades, but do they also reflect some negative tendencies of the tech economy? Plus: Italy's M5S/Lega coalition, the sovereignty question, and Italians' contradictory attitudes to the EU.  Readings: The Return of the Party, Paolo Gerbaudo, Jacobin Ruling the Void, Peter Mair, NLR Senso Comune organisation, Italy The Experiment Interview on 5 Star Movement, Jacobin   Chip in some change. Help us grow. Go to: patreon.com/bungacast