The emergence of “independent community platforms” which govern in Biscay: a hybrid between social movement and political party as an alternative (1991-2017)

Abstract

From 1991 on and at the local level, a phenomenon has been identified in Biscay: the emergence of “community independent platforms” and its growth in terms of representation, becoming an alternative to traditional political parties. Therefore, the first goal is to define them after reconsidering the work of Gemma Ubasart in Catalonia, from which it has been possible the construction of a subcategory that distinguises “independent community platforms” from those categories where political parties, their “white brands”, split-offs and coalitions are put together. The second objective is to analyse what kind of political actor does the new category form: if “independent community platforms” are configured as political parties or as social movements, and this article mantains that they are a hybrid between social movement and political party after carring out 12 in-depth interviews to their mayors.