Do We Still Need Political Parties?

Amid the bumpy launch of a new left-wing party and the rise of the Greens and Reform, the ACFM crew turn their attention to the idea of the party. Do we still need political parties? Do parties bring people together, or merely exclude those who aren’t invited? And should a political party have anything in common with a dance party?

Nadia, Keir and Jem offer a weird-left view with reference to the Paris Commune, Unite the Right, Abigail’s Party and Beauty and the Beat, plus music from Fred Westley and The Beastie Boys.

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Music: The Beastie Boys – You Gotta Fight For Your Right to Party / Pink – Get the Party Started / Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin – It’s My Party / Canadian Cultural Workers Committee – The Party is the Most Precious Thing / Fred Westley – House Party

Books and articles: Jodi Dean – Crowds and Party / Paolo Gerbaudo – Digital Party: Political Organisation and Online Democracy / Rodrigo Nunes – Neither Vertical Nor Horizontal / Antonio Gramsci – The Modern Prince