The Italian Socialist Party and Political Participation

In this intriguing example of applied political research, Alessandro Pizzorno combines an analysis of the degree of mass participation in the Italian Socialist Party with proposals for reforming the party in keeping with traditional socialist principles. Focusing on the 33rd Conference of the party, he finds that low participation in pre-conference meetings permits party factions to engage in undemocratic manipulation. He believes that mass participation is necessary to achieve socialistic goals, for example, the control of economic policy, and attempts to answer those who argue that obligarchic party control is necessary and that the mass cannot effectively participate in political life.