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Aims

Members

Functions

Recordings

Publications

Research

Links

Dialogue

Nikos Poulantzas Society

Institution, Aims and Principles

Nikos Poulantzas Society was founded in the autumn of 1997 on the initiative of the "SYNaspismos - Coalition of the Left and Progress" Greek political party. Its institution aims at fostering the principles of  the Left, systematically developing awareness of contemporary political and social issues and exploring the emerging changes within society at large. The Society's fundamental functional principles are commitment to the ideals of democratic socialism and emphasis on the public character of its functions.
The members of the Society belong to the democratic Left, and they are not all members of 'SYNaspismos'.

The Name

The Society is named after Nikos Poulantzas. This decision signals public recognition of the fact that the Society preserves the traditional values of the radical left intellectuals. With his academic work and self-giving participation in the movement of the Left, Nikos Poulantzas rose as a prominent figure of the organic intellectual of the Left. His lifework was animated by the principles of democratic socialism and it was integrally linked with the endeavour of the Left to overcome dogmatic rigidity and to fight against any form of authoritative rule and domination.

Organized Events [Greek fonts needed]

More than two thousand individuals have taken part in conferences, meetings and public discussions organized or actively supported by the Society in its first two years of operation.

The issues raised in the Society's organized events cover a wide range of interest, such as

• exploring the importance of the fundamental values of the Left in everyday life and political practice (e.g. the principles of solidarity and respect for human dignity
• inquiring the prospects of the social state in Southern Europe
• contributing to the movement of conscience objectors
• registering the ways youth relates to politics
• discussing the signficance of local authority

  A large number of experts from Greece and abroad have presented their ideas in those events. The aim of the Society is to allow wider public access to the questions and concepts posed in those events via a series of special publications. The first two books have already been published and became part of the "Library of Nikos Poulantzas Society".

  In the same vein, the Society has undertaken the electronic publication on its Internet site of all available material from papers or speeches presented during each of its public meetings.

  Since autumn 1999, the Society has established a series of Seminars aiming at providing in depth information on current political issues.

  Furthermore, the Society intends to offer support to research studies and to help disseminate their findings.

  Collaborations

  In designing and organizing the above public functions, the Society has collaborated with various other organizations, such as the Council of Europe, the Ecology Movement (Gr), the Goethe Institute, the SYN Youth Organization, the "Espace Marx", the Federation of Conscience Objectors etc. These collaborations have been purposeful as it is the Society's aim to support and reinforce initiatives within the wider domain of the Left, Ecology and Social Movements.

  Collaboration with institutions and societies from abroad the aims of which are similar to those of Nikos Poulantzas Society is considered of particular importance.

  
  Georgios Tsiakalos

  President
  of Nikos Poulantzas Society