He is usually a middle-aged man, thin and somewhat aggressive. He taps his palm on the table, speaks in the singular, writes in large letters on social networks or chats on TV. He denounces the “system”, perceives his political opponents as enemies, threatens with punishments and prisons, promising that next time everything will be different or that he will remove them from power once and for all. It is superfluous to enter names in the above description, each recognizes a particular anthropotype of politics. It occurs in both large parties, often in smaller ones. This is not a new phenomenon and not a product of the crisis.

If you need to look for the conditions of this political style somewhere, then at least at two levels. On the one hand, there is a structural problem: polarization and competition are necessary – or inevitable – elements of democracy; we, however, lack mechanisms to mediate escalation, such as open and democratic parties (thus less leader-oriented). a deliberative parliament as a counterbalance to an omnipotent executive, a fixed electoral system that encourages cooperation, a more polyphonic public sphere. On the other hand, there is a problem that has become more acute in the decade of crisis: the loss of political trust. An expansion, that is, a space that we call “anti-system”, citizens who feel “out” and are at a mental distance from the political system, feel that they are not represented. Here they find fertile ground for figures who “say it”, who express the common man, or rather a vulgar and simplified version of him.

The phenomenon is not exclusively left or right. However, there is a fundamental difference. Conservative politics means the continuation of the order of things that existed “originally”, respect for tradition, for hierarchies, and ultimately for the “natural” male-patriarchal element of politics. On the contrary, the left, progressive politics, wants to intervene in the world to change it, to make something “artificial” where it was not, to transform what we tend to consider “natural”. So part of his logic is to offer a foretaste of the future world he posits. In this sense, the personal style of leftist politicians is purely political. However, a number of figures such as Pavlos Polakis point to a world very similar to today. Moreover, it is false, while radical styles of leftist politics are emerging around us that find ways to effectively communicate a political message that can move “anti-systemic” citizens in a more rational and democratic context and the opposite of traditional politics or toxic masculinity.

There are also radical styles of left-wing politics that convey a message capable of moving “anti-systemic” citizens into a more rational and democratic context.

No need to travel to the US or New Zealand. For several days now, in neighboring Italy, the Democratic Party (Democratic Party / DP), a descendant and evolution of the great Eurocommunist PCI Enrico Berlinguer, has been leading a young woman, born in 1985, Ellie Sline. Schline participated in both Obama campaigns. In 2013, he recommended the #OccupyPD initiative as a left-wing movement within the Democratic Party. In a recent internal party election forced after last year’s defeat and the elevation of far-right Georgia Meloni to the premiership, Slane became the first female leader of a faction to traditionally elect middle-aged men as its leaders. She defeated her moderate opponent Stefano Bonacini 53.8% to 46.2% despite him winning the majority of the party; Schlein won the hearts of many more party friends (especially young and left-wingers, according to Politico) who came to the polls. especially in major urban centers such as Milan, Turin, Naples.

Openly lesbian, kind, unassuming, Slane marks a break from Matteo Renzi’s centrist and economically liberal heritage, with a platform that combines economic equality with rights and ecology. She speaks to workers and the precariat with privilege, talks about the common good against inequality and privatization, about human rights, immigrant integration, LGBTI people like herself. In short, she contrasts Meloni’s post-fascist alt-right with a strong leftist, environmentalist, and right-wing feminist identity.

Both Polakis and Slane are two versions of “anti-system” politics. Perhaps they are equally effective electorally. First, there is no shortage of Greek political culture. The second is still missing a lot, especially on the left.

Mr. Yannis Balapanidis is a political scientist and writer.