Still together, after all: consensual dynamics and the persistence of the growth paradigm among left-wing groups in Italy

Whilst left-wing groups' increasing acceptance of fiscal austerity and anti-inflationary policies is well documented, less attention has been placed on their positions vis-à-vis the pursuit of economic growth, a key pillar of neoliberal ideology, and whether these ideas are affected during critical junctures. This article fills this gap by investigating the following questions: what are the stances of left-wing groups on the pursuit of economic growth, and do such positions persist or change in periods of economic crisis? The research focuses on Italy, a country where left-wing groups have long supported the ‘beyond GDP’ agenda and which was severely affected by the 2011 Eurozone crisis. It finds that left-wing groups see the pursuit of increasing economic growth as a prerequisite for well-being and social justice more generally. This, we argue, suggests that the endurance of the growth paradigm is primarily the result of widespread consensus rather than externally imposed constraints.