QUOTE : Whether social movements take off or not, whether they maintain momentum or subside, depends on multiple conditions, not least on the actual actors and their capacities to seize the opportunities available to them, to invent creative forms of action and to build convincing alliances. A significant factor in the hegemonic relations of force is, for example, whether or not there exists an independent and non-sectarian leftist party or leftist formation which is able to articulate and connect different initiatives and movements.