Participation and social formations: the matter of parties and trade unions [PARTECIPAZIONE E FORMAZIONI SOCIALI: LA QUESTIONE DEI PARTITI E DEI SINDACATI]

Social formations are an expression of the personalist principle: the basis of their constitutional recognition stems from it. The person, in fact, performs his/her personality in the social formations, thus the protection of rights extends to the social formations and, at the same time, is guaranteed in and even by social formations. The article proposes to emphasise the political relevance of social formations-in particular parties and trade unions-, namely their essentiality for the model of democracy enshrined in the Italian Constitution. This model is grounded on the support of the economic and social, even before political, participation of citizens-workers. For these reasons, it is expected that a legislative intervention guarantee a democratic internal order for parties and trade unions.