About Opposition, Differences, and Synergies.
People who want to advocate for societal change have always had two options: Social movements or political parties. As long as the latter are not in office (yet), both are referred to as “non-parliamentary opposition”. Where do these layers work together – where against each other?
We would like to dedicate this anniversary edition of Tipping Points to the relationship between these two actors; because the shift to the right in recent months and years has led many people from movements to reflect anew on the connection to political parties or to even strengthen them. Whether through substantive debates, public support of election campaigns, candidacies of people out of movements, financial support, close exchange through individuals, or a process of creating accountability… cooperation between movements and political parties can take many forms.
However, the relationship between movements and parties does not take place on equal footing. The political system favors parties through access to institutional power and money. Sustainable cooperation on an equal footing can only take place, if political parties critically reflect on their position of power and take measures to reduce the gap in power. Some may fundamentally view cooperation with parties critically because they reject cooperation with state structures.
Through workshops, exchange spaces, and suplementary program, we would like to devote ourselves to these important and complex topics at the beginning of June.
These questions move us:
- Do movements have a realistic picture of working with political parties? Is that image idealized, is it underestimated? And vice versa, do political parties have a realistic picture of movements? Are they underestimated or not taken seriously?
- How (must) movements reorient themselves their expctaions when progressive parties suddenly sit in the institutions and hold offices against which movement protests often turns?
- What could a joint strategy of political parties and movements look like? If they have the same goals, how can they work towards them together/synergistically; without it consuming or weakening one or the other.
- What are commonalities, what are differences? How can they learn from each other and fight together for a better world?
- Was können Bewegungen und Parteien voneinander lernen in Bezug auf ihre interne Organisierung?
- Welche staatlichen Institutionen macht es Sinn zu nutzen?
- How do we, as movements, deal with people from our ranks going into political parties? (How) can we support them in sticking to their positions? How do we deal with frustration and setbacks when the desired goals are not achieved?
- How can parties create opportunities for participation and co-determination for movements?
- Wann ist es überhaupt möglich/sinnvoll eine Zusammenarbeit zu suchen?
We are aware that cooperation with parties is not an option for many movements and groups. Whether for ideological and strategic reasons, due to historical mistrust, or even due to persecution and traumatization. We warmly invite these people to participate critically in the debates; or simply enjoy the rest of the program.
In keeping with the focus topic, we at Tipping Points are trying something new this time. We are organizing the 10th edition in cooperation with the „Jungen Linken“, an organization that tries to live this bridge between movement and party in many ways; as well as with the local "System Change, not Climate Change!" group in Graz.
So, as usual, you can expect exciting content, some innovations, and still some Tipping Points classics.
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