SYRIZA: INSIDE THE LABYRINTH PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Kevin Ovenden | 208 pages | 15 Oct 2015 | PLUTO PRESS | 9780745336862 | English | London, United Kingdom Syriza: Inside the Labyrinth PDF Book He then cut a concessionary compromise with the Troika on February 20, The sweeping mobilisation of Greek citizens made possible the victory of Syriza in the first place. Like most websites, we use cookies to improve our service and make your user experience better. The book does, however, address one of the key debates on the left over the alternative economic program to Tsipras determination to stay inside the Eurozone at all costs. The bodies of the EU do not respect democracy despite the referendum result as they force even worse measures on the Syriza government. Issue section:. There was both a widespread understanding of the scale of the crisis facing the incoming government, and, consequently, the realization among the network of trade unionists, social movement campaigners, and activists of the left—notably in the base of Syriza—that the period of intense mobilization had not ended with the election victory. Ovenden shows how Tsipras betrayed all of this in power and quickly abandoned the Thessalonika Program. Membership of the monetary union had brought Greece to the centre of European public attention since the onset of the financial crisis in , which triggered the breakdown of the Greek two-party system in place since the fall of the military junta in To accept cookies, click continue. Despite the party's many defeats, the rise and fall of Syriza is a symbolic and important story to tell. The book analyses in great detail how the political establishment tried to fend off the rising power. The book skillfully weaves three narrative strands that are inseparable to understanding the significance of these events and the experience of the Syriza government. Review by Aaron Amaral. In other words, he shows the Greek struggle to be part of international class struggle. Okay, Thanks. Search form Search. A party that had repeatedly — and credibly — asserted its association with left social movements, had underlined its unwillingness to collaborate with any of the established parties and, simultaneously, had voiced its opposition to globalised capitalism, prepared to take the reins of a venerable member of the European Union and the eurozone. He formed a government not with the left, but with the xenophobic right-wing nationalists of ANEL, granting them three key ministries—foreign affairs, defense, and police. This finds expression in the numerous first-hand accounts provided throughout the book, giving voice to people actively engaged in the movements. Syriza: Inside the Labyrinth Writer Syriza : Inside the Labyrinth. Rather, there would be fresh battles to come. Smith strikes a much more sombre note. They wanted to prove to all of Europe that there was no alternative at the ballot box to austerity. Ultimately, Ovenden has greatly succeeded in his stated goals. He then cut a concessionary compromise with the Troika on February 20, Geoff Bailey. The notion that the rejection of austerity is compatible with membership of the euro and the EU is tested and fails. The key to beating austerity remains the struggle of the unbowed working class. The fierce confrontation with Greece's creditors which followed reverberated around the world. The book does, however, address one of the key debates on the left over the alternative economic program to Tsipras determination to stay inside the Eurozone at all costs. One of the main strengths of the book is its focus on struggle in which workers not only resist the bosses and the Troika but begin to challenge for control of production. The plus general strikes, the occupations and the anti-fascist and anti-racist movement are all outlined with eyewitness accounts. Between Things Ended and Things Begun 2. But all of this is not examined in the book. The Maw of the Minotaur 8. We use cookies on this site to understand how you use our content, and to give you the best browsing experience. Phil Gasper. People hoped that the new government would be different. Benoit Renaud. Like most websites, we use cookies to improve our service and make your user experience better. Ovenden provides a useful overview of the competing plans put forward by figures like Yanis Varoufakis, Euclid Tsakalatos, and Costas Lapavitsas. The book skillfully weaves three narrative strands that are inseparable to understanding the significance of these events and the experience of the Syriza government. Search form Search. A party that had repeatedly — and credibly — asserted its association with left social movements, had underlined its unwillingness to collaborate with any of the established parties and, simultaneously, had voiced its opposition to globalised capitalism, prepared to take the reins of a venerable member of the European Union and the eurozone. The singular pole of Christian Democracy is fragmenting, allowing a variety of right- wing forces—from anti-European nationalists to outright fascists—to re-emerge in their own party formations. Skip to main content. Ovenden captures well the optimism produced by the Syriza victory in the elections and the confusion when it unnecessarily formed a coalition with the racist populists of ANEL. With the return of democracy, the reformist party PASOK Panhellenic Socialist Movement dominated electoral politics and traded power occasionally with its openly capitalist opponent, New Democracy, but each progressively adopted severe neoliberal economic policies. Instead, he shows that sections of Greek capital have greatly benefited and shepherded neoliberal austerity programs through to their tragic results. Inside the Labyrinth is particularly attentive in this history to the threat of the far right, specifically the fascist party Golden Dawn. Search form. Syriza: Inside the Labyrinth. Chris Newlove. Issue 99 : Reviews Share. The book really comes into its own when discussing the failed strategy of Tsipras and his circle. Ovenden exposes how vulnerability to those pressures was exacerbated by the lack of orientation and resolve on the part of Syriza itself. The sweeping mobilisation of Greek citizens made possible the victory of Syriza in the first place. Pluto Press Left Book Club. The Resisted Rise of Syriza 3. Syriza: Inside the Labyrinth Reviews Ultimately, Ovenden has greatly succeeded in his stated goals. Phil Gasper. Back to Top. Series: Left Book Club. The ensuing cracks in the coalition between the political party and the social movement backing it reveal the pitfalls of engaging in a political system for those who demand far-reaching changes to the system itself. Search for:. Kevin Ovenden. Instead, he shows that sections of Greek capital have greatly benefited and shepherded neoliberal austerity programs through to their tragic results. For Smith, in contrast to Ovenden, parties like Syriza do not signify the crystallisation of class antagonisms, but rather the very decline of the popular mobilisations from which they emanate. Ian Birchall. Look Inside. Ovenden intentionally sidesteps historic debates between revolution and reform in the socialist movement, and the book could have been more explicit in its position on this question. The book skillfully weaves three narrative strands that are inseparable to understanding the significance of these events and the experience of the Syriza government. He exposes the limits of implementing fundamental change through the state with its unelected military, police and civil service. There was both a widespread understanding of the scale of the crisis facing the incoming government, and, consequently, the realization among the network of trade unionists, social movement campaigners, and activists of the left—notably in the base of Syriza—that the period of intense mobilization had not ended with the election victory. Syriza: Inside the Labyrinth. Search form. People believed that there was, in fact, an alternative to neoliberal capitalism. Lost in the Labyrinth 6. Buy from Bookmarks. Its eventual surrender was the result, argues Oven den, of trying to find a solution within the current setup of the euro-zone. Issue contents. Their Austerity and Our Resistance 4. But it had maintained and developed a level of popular organization. Kevin Ovenden. Becoming a unitary party only in , the Syriza coalition was first founded in , emerging out of a range of fragmentations occurring on the left of the Greek political spectrum during the early s. There is a real debate about these proposals. Membership of the monetary union had brought Greece to the centre of European public attention since the onset of the financial crisis in , which triggered the breakdown of the Greek two-party system in place since the fall of the military junta in The key to beating austerity remains the struggle of the unbowed working class. Issue 99 : Reviews Share. He contends that this struggle cannot be understood as merely a national one of an oppressed Greece against the Troika. La Patria Grande. Yet, the book is relatively silent on important related debates on the Greek left inside and outside Syriza. And it had brought down one government after another. October In January , Syriza, the Coalition of the Radical Left, became the largest party in the Hellenic Parliament, winning out of seats and badly defeating the then-ruling conservative New Democracy party. Golden Dawn and fascist politics more generally have thrived in the shadow of the mainstream Right, and Ovendon situates the Greek far right within the Europe context as a whole. In Syriza , Kevin Ovenden presents an in-depth analysis of the political events leading up to this seemingly sudden reversal of political power in Greece, exploring the origins of the turbulent Greek political climate, from the beginnings of the Communist Party of Greece and the Greek workers' movement following the First World War, to the brutal civil war that shook the country in the aftermath of the Second World War; the rise and fall of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement and the growth of radical politics in the s; and finally the crushing austerity demands following the debt crisis of the s.