The economic crisis in Greece, deepened by the measures imposed by the Troika, have brought the country into a state of decay. Almost all layers of the population are hit and despair is reigning supreme. The support for the traditional 'moderate' parties is fading away, resulting a a polarization of the society. The missed chances of the radical left resulted in a serious push of fascism. They are increasingly, openly and proudly using violence against migrants. The weakening Greek state and the police force, of which over 50% voted for the fascists, do not intervene. The radical left has the historical responsibility to put forward appealing, radical left policies in order to counter the fascist threat.
1. Greece skimminglight.net
Greece
Overview
* Society in decay
* Rise of Golden Dawn
* The workers' movement
* Conclusions
8 Oct 2012 1/53
2. Greece > Chrysi Avgi skimminglight.net
Society
in decay
8 Oct 2012 2/53
3. Greece > Society in Decay skimminglight.net
Society in Decay
http://www.statista.com/statistics/14538/gross-domestic-product-growth-rate-in-greece/
8 Oct 2012 3/53
4. Greece > Society in Decay skimminglight.net
Society in Decay
● Impoverishment
– Homelessness
– Hunger
– Unemployment
● Despair
● Exodus
● Austerity: now 13.5 bln €
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_25/07/2012_453677
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_01/12/2011_417027
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite2_1_01/10/2012_463880
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/greece/unemployment-rate
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18391248
http://www.athensnews.gr/issue/13512/58161
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_27/07/2012_454163
8 Oct 2012 4/53
5. Greece > Society in Decay skimminglight.net
Athens News 28/09/12 - http://www.athensnews.gr/issue/13513/58349
8 Oct 2012 5/53
6. Greece > Society in Decay skimminglight.net
“Striking doctors and healtcare
professionals warn that immediate funding
is needed to avert collapse of primary
healthcare”
Athens News 28/09/12
Athens News 28/09/12 - http://www.athensnews.gr/issue/13513/58349
8 Oct 2012 6/53
7. Greece > Society in Decay skimminglight.net
Society in Decay
● Christine Lagarde, head IMF
– More sympathy for victims of poverty in sub-
Saharan Africa than Greeks
– Greeks "should also help themselves collectively"
by paying their taxes.
– As an official of an international institution, her
salary of $467,940 (£298,675) a year plus $83,760
additional allowance a year is not subject to any
taxes. (The Guardian, May 29, 2012)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/may/29/christine-lagarde-pays-no-tax
8 Oct 2012 7/53
8. Greece > Society in Decay skimminglight.net
Privatizations
The Greek government announced a wide
ranging privatization programme, spanning
rail and road transport, airports and ports,
utilities, gaming and public real estate
holdings. (minfin.gr)
The island of Pezonisi, also known as Nisi
ton Oneiron (Island of Dreams), is set to
become the first island to be leased to the
private sector for tourism development.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite2_1_28/09/2012_463511
http://www.minfin.gr/portal/en/resource/contentObject/id/2f09efef-f916-4450-8236-de0606f1e12d
8 Oct 2012 8/53
9. Greece > Polarization skimminglight.net
Polarization
Threat of chaos
Promise to renegotiate
Idea of left government
Government Radical left Eco. Lib. Fasco Fasco- Nat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Greece
8 Oct 2012 9/53
11. Greece > Chrysi Avgi skimminglight.net
Rise of Golden Dawn
(Chrysi Avgi)
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12. Greece > Chrysi Avgi > Fascism skimminglight.net
Fascism
● Authoritarian
– Dictatorship
– Destructions of workers' organizations
– Social & cultural control
● Extreme nationalist
– Racism
– Denial of class contradictions of capitalism
● Open use of violence
● Phenomenon of capitalism in decay
8 Oct 2012 12/53
13. Greece > Chrysi Avgi > symbolism skimminglight.net
<Click to start video>
8 Oct 2012 13/53
16. Greece > Chrysi Avgi > Violence skimminglight.net
Chrysi Avgi in action
● Corinth, 23/08/12
● Chrysi Avgi members, led by MP Eystathios
Boukouras clash with riot police over the transfer
of 250-400 illegal immigrants to an army camp.
● It is a “criminal action” to convert facilities of the
Greek Army into “tourism centres for illegal
immigrants.”
1
●
The following pictures were published by Chrysi
Avgi...
1. http://www.xryshaygh.com/index.php/enimerosi/view/sumbainei-twra-epeisodia-sthn-korintho-fwtografies
8 Oct 2012 16/53
23. Greece > Chrysi Avgi > Violence skimminglight.net
Violence
●
Intensifying1
● Video
– Election debate (7/6/12)
– Assault in Rafina near Athens2 (5/9/12)
– Cleaning market Messologgioy3 (8/9/12)
● Next
– Political adversaries & workers' movement
– Currently limited
1. http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_14/08/2012_456870
2. http://www.xryshaygh.com/index.php/enimerosi/view/chrush-augh-paremporio-telos
3. http://www.xryshaygh.com/index.php/enimerosi/view/enochlhthhkan-oi-tourkoi-apo-tis-
draseis-ths-chrushs-aughs
8 Oct 2012 23/53
24. Greece > Chrysi Avgi > Violence skimminglight.net
Violence
●
Intensifying1
click for video
● Video
click for video
– Election debate (7/6/12)
– Assault in Rafina near Athens2 (5/9/12)
click for video
– Cleaning market Messologgioy3 (8/9/12)
● Next
– Political adversaries & workers' movement
– Currently limited
1. http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_14/08/2012_456870
2. http://www.xryshaygh.com/index.php/enimerosi/view/chrush-augh-paremporio-telos
3. http://www.xryshaygh.com/index.php/enimerosi/view/enochlhthhkan-oi-tourkoi-apo-tis-
draseis-ths-chrushs-aughs
8 Oct 2012 24/53
25. Greece skimminglight.net
Intensifying violence on immigrants
<Watch video>
http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/1/58542
8 Oct 2012 25/53
26. Greece skimminglight.net
Intensifying violence on immigrants
<Watch video>
[The centre was used to] watch football and
host children's birthday parties, among other
activities. The center was attacked the night
of September 25th, by a mob believed to be
linked with Golden Down.
The centre was ransacked after a group of 30-
40 residents & GD members visited the night
before, threatening trouble if they did not close.
Certain accounts assert that police “left” or
“stood by” during the attack.
http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/1/58542
8 Oct 2012 26/53
27. Greece > Chrysi Avgi > Social Services skimminglight.net
Social Services
● Support fire fighters
8 Oct 2012 27/53
28. Greece > Chrysi Avgi > Social Services skimminglight.net
Social Services
● Support fire fighters
● Blood donations
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29. Greece > Chrysi Avgi > Social Services skimminglight.net
Social Services
● Support fire fighters
● Blood donations
click for video
● Food distribution
=> support
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30. Greece > Chrysi Avgi > Support skimminglight.net
Support
● Radical break methods other parties
● Criticise foreign speculators
● Ideas via press, parliament, own newspaper, ...
● Currently 9% - 12% (3th party)
● Tolerated by state
– Growing impotence state
– Chrysi Avgi taking over tasks state
– “Only party helping Greeks” (Chrysi Avgi)2
– Police > 50% supports Chrysi Avgi1
– Danger: out of control
1. http://rt.com/news/greek-police-vote-nazis-350/
2. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/28/greek-police-victims-neo-nazi
8 Oct 2012 30/53
31. Greece > Chrysi Avgi > Law & order skimminglight.net
Law and order
● Taking over responsibilities of state
– Social services
– Police tasks
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32. Greece > Chrysi Avgi > Law & order skimminglight.net
Law and order
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/28/greek-police-victims-neo-nazi
8 Oct 2012 32/53
33. Greece > Chrysi Avgi > Law & order skimminglight.net
Law and order
[C. Avgi] is increasingly assuming the role of
law enforcement officers on the streets of the
bankrupt country, with mounting evidence
that Athenians are being openly directed by
police to seek help from the neo-Nazi group,
analysts, activists and lawyers say.
“They immediately said if it's an issue with
immigrants go to Golden Dawn."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/28/greek-police-victims-neo-nazi
8 Oct 2012 33/53
34. Greece > Chrysi Avgi > Law & order skimminglight.net
Law and order
But the hand-outs come at a price:
allegiance to GD. "A friend who was being
seriously harassed by her husband and was
referred to the party by the police very soon
found herself giving it clothes and food in
return. She's a liberal and certainly no racist
and is disgusted by what she has had to do."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/28/greek-police-victims-neo-nazi
8 Oct 2012 34/53
36. Greece > Workers's movement skimminglight.net
Workers'
movement
8 Oct 2012 36/53
37. Greece > Workers's movement > SYRIZA skimminglight.net
SYRIZA
● Weaknesses
– Influx bureaucrats
– Weak local activity
– Weak(ening) demands
– Migration?
● No lead
– Against gov & troïka / fascism
● Does not reach its potential
– Evolutions?
http://www.athensnews.gr/issue/13512/58165
8 Oct 2012 37/53
38. Greece > Workers's movement > Until elections skimminglight.net
Until Elections
● 2.5 years of workers' struggle
– 17 general strikes
– No victories
● Elections
– Hopes on the electoral front.... NOT!
– Disillusions, decline consciousness & combativity
● Space for Chrysi Avgi
8 Oct 2012 38/53
39. Greece > Workers's movement > Since elections skimminglight.net
Since Elections
● Decreasing support government
– Gov. not keeping its promisses
– 90%: “new cuts unfair”1
● Strikes and demos ongoing
– Sometimes: funeral marches
– “Better than nothing” & “What else can we do?”
http://www.athens24.com/news-article.html?news_id=1930
8 Oct 2012 39/53
40. Greece > Polls skimminglight.net
Since Elections
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_06/09/2012_459953
8 Oct 2012 40/53
41. Greece > Polls skimminglight.net
%
“26% appreciates the actions of Golden
Dawn towards immigrants while 69.5%
does not.”
Government Radical left Nat. Fascist
http://news247.gr/eidiseis/politiki/sto_0_5_h_diafora_nd-syriza.1940262.html
8 Oct 2012 41/53
42. Greece > Workers's movement > Last 2-3 weeks skimminglight.net
Last 2-3 weeks
● General strike 26/09
– “24h strikes won't help. Something bigger
needed”
– “Spain & Portugal?”
● Start antifa movement
– Defense committees
8 Oct 2012 42/53
43. Greece > Workers's movement > Last 2-3 weeks skimminglight.net
Last 2-3 weeks
● GENOP/DEI (electrical workers):
– "Workers’ occupations of the main ministries, public
agencies, all the banks, all tax offices, the airports and
ports"
– "Coordinated call for repeated 48-hour general strikes
and massive daily rallies at Syntagma Square.”
– Other unions → same direction
● Union of doctors in public hospitals
– Indefinite general strike
● New phase in class struggle?
8 Oct 2012 43/53
50. Greece > Conclusions skimminglight.net
Conclusions
● Capitalism failed → radicalisation
● 2.5 years of workers' struggle
– Radical left missed opportunities
– Disillusion & despair
– Temporal setback consciousness
– Lessons
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51. Greece > Conclusions skimminglight.net
Conclusions
● Fascists took the initiative
– Preparing years in advance
– Gained confidence
– Considerable support
– Climate of intimidation & fear amongst immigrants
● Defense being built
8 Oct 2012 51/53
52. Greece > Conclusions skimminglight.net
Conclusions
● Outlook
– Rythm of class struggle
● Mood changing
● Internationalization
● SYRIZA
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53. Greece skimminglight.net
Questions / Discussion
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