Democracy Reloaded: Inside Spains Political Laboratory from 15-M to Podemos

In Democracy Reloaded, Cristina Flesher Fominaya tells the story of one of the most influential social movements of recent times: Spain''s "Indignados" or "15-M" movement that took to the streets of Spain on May 15, 2011 with the rallying cry "Real D... Read more

In Democracy Reloaded, Cristina Flesher Fominaya tells the story of one of the most influential social movements of recent times: Spain''s "Indignados" or "15-M" movement that took to the streets of Spain on May 15, 2011 with the rallying cry "Real Democracy Now! We are not merchandise in thehands of bankers and politicians!" Based on access to key participants in the 15-M movement and Podemos and extensive participant observation, Flesher Fominaya tells a provocative and original story of this remarkable movement, its emergence, evolution, and impact. In so doing, she argues that intimes of global economic and democratic crisis, movements organized around autonomous network logics can build and sustain strong movements in the absence of formal organizations, strong professionalized leadership, and the ability to attract external resources. Further, she challenges explanationsfor success that rest on the mobilizing power of social media. Through in-depth analysis of the month long occupation of Madrid''s Puerta del Sol, and subsequent 15-M mobilization, Democracy Reloaded shows how the experience of the protest camp revitalized pre-existing networks, forged bonds ofsolidarity, and gave birth to a new movement that went on to influence public debate and the political agenda, in Spain and beyond. Less