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201 08

newsletter newsletter

Special Edition focused on the political situation in Greece, in cooperation with Nicos Poulantzas Institute (NPI)

“It’s All Greek To Me!”

Hegemony and Despair

By Stavros Panagiotidis, Nicos Poulantzas Institute

Before the elections of 6 May, the tions has given even more momentum. late a hopeful political proposal. This is most likely result seemed to be the for- Within the strong comparative advan- both because it has accepted the political mation of a government of New Democ- tages of SYRIZA is that for the citizens framework of the Memorandum, and racy (conservatives) and PASOK (social it represents a new political force, that, due to the numerous changes of its democrats). However, the slogan for the against the corrupted political personnel leader’s stands, it has lost its credibility. “government of the Left”, which was of the two (former) major parties. Cur- Antonis Samaras talks about the need of brought in the political arena by Alexis rently, SYRIZA seems to be surfing on a “renegotiating” the Memorandum – in Tsipras, led people to face SYRIZA not big wave. This wave is the need of peo- contrast to its “cancellation”, on which just as a force of protest, but as a party ple for a Greek Renaissance, the desire SYRIZA commits itself – that is to with a view to govern, offering a pros- to finally change something in this coun- change some of its details. But what the pect of getting over the crisis. The re- try, which has been governed by the party mainly offers is not vision, but sults brought closer the realization of same two parties since the fall of the fear. The basic – almost unique – New what seemed just as a good slogan. dictatorship in 1974. The public may not Democracy’s argument is that because know the details of SYRIZA’s program. of SYRIZA Greece will be expelled Entering the final week before the The party, however, due to its steady from the Eurozone. Since everyone had elections, the mode in which the politi- anti-Memorandum position, whereby it to admit that there is no legal possibility cal conflict in Greece is carried out crys- refused to participate in a coalition gov- to drive off a country from the EMU tallizes the difference between the two ernment with the New Democracy and against its will, New Democracy’s main poles. On the one hand, New De- PASOK, seems to convince them that in propaganda states that if a Greek gov- mocracy is the dominant power of the it consists the only real hope for a new ernment cancels the Memorandum, the pro-Memorandum pole. On the other political and moral progress in Greece. country will not get any loans and will hand, SYRIZA is the strongest anti- The hegemony that SYRIZA seems to be forced to abandon EMU in order to Memorandum political force. It is quite achieve is such that the party gains peo- have its own currency. So, the refusal of characteristic that in last month’s elec- ple’s support, though they may not be- the Troika (EU, ECB, IMF) to accept tions, SYRIZA came first among private lieve that it will apply all of what it says. the terms of a left government will have sector workers, civil servants, self- But the hope of a rebirth is as strong as this effect. But when the representatives employed and unemployed, also in age the need for it. of New Democracy are asked what they groups up to 55 years old and in the would do in case the Troika will deny largest urban centers. So, it presented a When sadness lays madness their own proposals for a renegotiation, surprisingly strong acceptance from the they find a thousand ways to avoid an- most dynamic segments of Greek soci- New Democracy, on the other hand, swering. ety. The presentation of the party’s posi- proves itself completely unable to articu-

New Democracy is experiencing a ma- message that if Greece fails to pay its chances for a victory in the elections. He jor impasse. So, they use any type of debt, she will be kicked out of the EMU. also avoids organizing a public speech propaganda that can be based on fear. But it is an extremely provocative and (an unprecedented situation for the po- They circulate gray television ads insulting advertisement, because we all litical life of Greece) due to the fear that (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j24 know that the Greek people have been the attendance would be very small. At Tphmp-00&feature=related) which eating not at all luxurious in recent the same time, Alexis Tsipras gives show, as a picture of the future, ten years years. But this shows the absolute dis- public speeches in crowded square all old students to ask their teacher why tance of the party’s political personnel over Greece, discussing the program of Greece is out of the Eurozone (receiving from people’s needs. Up to panic, the SYRIZA with citizens and answering allegations of unacceptable use of chil- leadership of New Democracy placed as their questions, sometimes for more than dren) with the slogan “we do not gamble head of its campaign a populist and three hours! with the future of our children”. The (used to be) extremely popular politi- So, a few days before the elections, in Youth organization of the party has cian, but who is now on trial for finan- Greece a great struggle is being con- released an anonymous video cial scandals. ducted between obedience and resis- (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcg As a result of all the fore mentioned, tance, compromise and conflict, hu- BlQlLQ3w&feature=related) where the leader of New Democracy uses any miliation and dignity. A battle between Alexis Tsipras is represented by an actor type of ridiculous excuses to refuse fear and hope. Who do you think will be as a macho customer of an expensive participating in a TV debate along with the winner in the end? restaurant who refuses to pay his bill and Alexis Tsipras, apparently realizing that the waiters throw him out, with a clear this would cause the loss of all his

The rise of the Neo-Nazi extreme Right in Greece: A Child of the Crisis and the Peculiarities of Greek Society; A Challenge for the Left

By Michalis Nikolakakis, Nicos Poulantzas Institute

On the 6th of May, 440,000 people I will try to shed some light on what racist violence during the last years are chose to vote for neo-Nazi party of the support of this group really means, not few even there. Golden Dawn. They chose to support a not as a means of reaction against a political group, which, besides being collapsing party system, but as a 3. While the two parties in power openly Nazist, is responsible for hun- choice per se. To this direction I make were creating clientelistic networks, dreds of murderous attacks against the following observations: the political forces of the Extreme immigrants and members of Left and Right were integrated in them without Anarchist organizations. A group, the 1. Opposite to what happens in the rest claiming major things. However, the very existence of which should be of the countries of Western Europe the inability of these parties to deliver has forbidden. Not because the prohibition polls in Greece managed to forecast the politically released the bearers of far of any political ideology has something electoral result for the Extreme Right Right ideas. to offer to the Greek democracy, but because its voters were not ashamed to because many of its cadres should be declare that they would vote for it, as it 4. Thus, the 400,000 voters of Gold- prosecuted for crimes of the common was the case in France for example. en Dawn are not Nazist. However, they criminal law. After the assault of a adhere to a social, ideological frame- member of Golden Dawn against two 2. The electoral geography of Golden work where the expression of their left-wing MPs of KKE and SYRIZA, Dawn reveals that the party is present support to Golden Dawn is not blame- the TV stations decided to break their all over Greece, but stronger in urban worthy. This is because racism, as a silence and speak about the role of the centers with a traditionally conserva- political stance is far more wide-spread party, which, for so many years was tive electoral behavior. Its highest than the condensed core of the voters denounced by the Left. percentages were realized in the “right- of the Far Right. The fact that the atti- The rich debate taking place these wing” area of the Peloponnese, and tude towards immigrants constituted a days regarding this new phenomenon more specifically in regions that do not basic criterion set by the parties of the conceals the real characteristics of the face severe problems with immigrants. former two-party system and the big party’s voters behind the statement Correspondingly, the lowest percent- media for a growing part of the elec- “let’s not overreact; these 440,000 ages were realized in the “democratic” toral base, is not irrelevant to the shift people are not nazists”. So, in this text area of Crete, even though the cases of of the political agenda from unem-

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ployment, austerity and recession to understanding of the crisis of political play this autonomous and utterly security and fear for the “polluting representation on the ideological level. dominant role in the division of power effects” of illegal immigrants. In this framework the Left has to pri- inside the family. Thus, echoing the marily focus on the fascist danger in analyses of the Frankfurt School re- 5. Nevertheless, racism is not the on- order to counter it, but more important- garding the "authoritarian personality" ly element that runs across the electoral ly it has to succeed to what the Left which supported fascism, economic base of Golden Dawn. Vote to this itself intends to do. As such, it has to and social "castration" of the Greek party also expresses an existing and confirm and maintain that is holds the man is replenished by extremely vio- visible ideological shift inside the heritage of the original fiduciary of lent and masculine options (until re- Greek society towards anti- democracy. cently, cultural, and only during the parliamentarism. A shift, in other last period also political). Violence in words, to the direction of an open 7. The vote to Golden Dawn is not the stadiums, the emergence of body questioning of the opinion that bour- only indicative for the spread of racism building as a particular aesthetic ideal, geois parliamentary institutions consti- and anti-parliamentarism in Greece. It and the aesthetic codes of nightlife for tute an adequate way to articulate polit- also testifies the spread of a new type years showed the emergence of this ical and social antagonism. This anti- of defensive sexism. The vote to Gold- new defensive sexism. The Golden parliamentarism is expressed today – at en Dawn is greatly higher among Dawn is the authentic political expres- least in public – with the cult extrava- young men. The political changeover sion of this new sexism, as a request to gance of the cadres of Golden Dawn in (Metapolitefsi) was a huge positive restore a social order where the woman front of the cameras, but also with their incision (this is something we always stays in the kitchen and paranoid hom- assault against specific parts of society. tend to forget) regarding the female ophobia (which discovers sexual per- Tomorrow, though, we can see this position in Greece both socially and versions everywhere, to cover any antagonism being transubstantiated in a economically. The economic crisis "deficiency") in authority. A similar more mature political proposal that places the role of the two sexes in the trend clearly emerged with both the even ideologically incorporates “mod- forefront. The value shift realized in Neo-Nazi attack against the two par- ernizing” or “reformatory” parts of the Metapolitefsi has deprived Greek men liamentary candidates of the Left (what Greek society, as was the case in the from their ability to embody the seems to make him feel humiliated and interwar period with fascism. masculine ideal of bringing food and react so that he was attacked by wom- leading the family. The crisis today en), and some of the supportive com- 6. In this conjuncture, the Left and seals this shift given that, even if they ments for the act, which was expressed the Extreme Right constitute directly wanted to, the unemployment and the these days in private talks in Greece. opposing outlets and proposals for the reduction of incomes, forbids them to

The Special Regime of Media in Greece

By Stelios Fotinopoulos, Nicos Poulantzas Institute

Media crisis in Greece comes as a tioned law, were none other than the by the Greek media, happened during consequence of the lack of real democ- major well established publishers. They the social explosion of December 2008, racy that becomes more and more inten- were the first to deal with this whole when police shot a 15-year-old boy sive. If in Greece, there is a non- new status and seize the upcoming op- causing massive riots. Greek Television pluralistic sector of public life, this is portunity. The basic criterion so far for and newspapers reported merely the definitely the mainstream private media. having a license to use the public fre- riots and clashes and associated them to These stations took their license to quencies in order to transmit a TV sig- the peaceful context of the youth move- transmit through public frequencies after nal, was only the quality of the projected ment. As a result we had a total over- a ministerial decision back in 1989. This program. throw of the public opinion in interest of decision gave the opportunity to people the Greek government and the police. For many years, the private main- who had “a traditional experience in the The main enemy of the system at that stream media were identical to corrup- Media System”, to establish “non-state time was SYRIZA. SYRIZA, who was tion and many times accused for ma- television channels”. The particular law nothing but reasonable and respectful to nipulating the public opinion. The that gives this ability is actually based the thousands of young students who “framing” method* was presented as the on a governmental law of the 1970s that were demonstrating across Greece, said main rule in journalism, most of the opens the way just for amateur local TV that we do not agree with the violent times without penalties by the National and radio stations. These businessmen, riots and brutalities but we have to focus TV and radio council. The last ex- who were described to the fore men- on the reasons that provoke the whole tremely intense phenomenon of framing

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social explosion: social exclusion, edu- Greek TV stations are owned by ship SYRIZA has a clear thesis on this. All cation, unemployment. From this point owners and owners of big construction TV stations that use public frequencies of view, December 2008 was a glimpse enterprises that undertake all the major in order to transmit their signals have to from the future economic and social public construction projects. SYRIZA pay for this concession. A democratic crisis. A crisis of the democracy itself. has repeatedly described this situations and effective National TV and Radio as a “triangle of sin”, consisting of the Council will also be a crucial parameter two former major parties (PASOK and towards this direction. Dealing with Governments, banks, media owners: New Democracy), TV station owners these issues that all previous govern- the triangle of sin and bankers. The story goes like this: ments have created and taken advantage It has to be stressed that none of the governments favour the banks in a thou- of, is of the utmost importance for a dominant media organizations that own sand ways, bankers then give loans to government of the Left. TV channels, have paid so far anything the TV stations and to the business of for the public frequencies they use. On * In the field of communication, framing their owners, and as a result, their TV defines how news media coverage the contrary, these particular media are stations support the government. All shapes mass opinion. To be specific, sources of bad quality news and closely these have caused a great lack of democ- framing effects refer to behavioural or connected with private business plans racy and Greek people share this view in attitudinal outcomes that are due to how and public investments. It is highly in- a given piece of information is being high percentages. framed in public discourse. dicative, that the four of the biggest

Left Opposition in Germany: Europe: Change of Direction is Necessary

By Axel Troost, fiscal spokesperson of the parliamentary group of DIE LINKE; Vice chairman of the party DIE LINKE

For implementing its prestige project, since national parliaments are obliged The Growth Pact to cede their budget rights, in case they the fiscal contract, Germany’s govern- The SPD and the Greens, similar to ment has to change the constitution and breach the wrongful requirements of the contract France’s president Hollande, demand therefore depends on the votes of the that a development and employment opposition.  We also disapprove of the contract for socio-economic reasons: agreement shall be added to the fiscal Negotiations on this issue will take The principle of competition among contract. place until 13 July, and DIE LINKE will states will not lead to a budget consoli- The project bonds for financing infra- dation through the introduction of join them on different levels. structural projects, which had been dis- higher taxes on assets and corporate cussed in connection with this matter, profits, but will be primarily executed will prove to be nothing but a drop in the Why we cannot Support the Fiscal at the expense of employees and the bucket. The same thing can be said Contract recipients of state subsidies. about the required immediate action The fiscal contract explicitly proposes The fiscal contract is a threat to the program to fight youth unemployment a constitutionally embedded debt limit European integration process. It will be as well as the EUR 10 billion for the for all participating nations. We disap- the reason why many countries will European Investment Bank. The devel- prove of this for the following reasons: associate the EU solely with austerity opment agreement proves to be rather a cuts and the deconstruction of democ- PR-campaign than a political pro-  First of all it is economic rea- racy. gramme that is worth being called by sons that speak against the contract: It Taking all this into consideration we that name. will become more difficult to perform cannot approve of a compromise with an active stabilization policy as well as the coalition. Additionally, the claims of a formative policy of finances, for SPD and the Greens show significant The Financial Transaction Tax example in order to induce a socio- economic turn weaknesses. In fact it is time to stand up to FDP’s

 Secondly, the fiscal contract stubborn blockade and be determined to stands for an assault on democracy, introduce Europe-wide measures. Con-

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cerning this issue, the SPD, the Greens The Debt Redemption Fund to present a balanced budget – difficult and DIE LINKE take the same stance. enough – but also pay off debts annually The SPD and the Greens took the idea Furthermore it would be sensible to at a level of EUR 50 billion. Nowhere in of a debt redemption fund on board that speak up against various attempts of the proposal it is mentioned how all of had been elaborated by the “Expert maceration. this shall be done. Advisory Board for the Assessment of Nevertheless: The financial transac- Economic Development“. According to The debt redemption fund might be a tion tax is a tool for financing global this concept the participating states nice idea if it comes to teasing the Ger- matters, as to say development aids and would outsource debts exceeding 60 per man government with the idea of com- worldwide environmental and climate cent of their GDP to a common stock munitarising the debts but not a practi- protection; similar to what Attac and the and receive temporary financial aid in cable solution for overcoming the crisis. “Tax against Poverty“-campaign are form of the bond issues of the stock demanding. (Eurobonds). In response, the participat- ing states would be obliged to commit to Prospects The German parliament must not a debt limit and a clearance plan, which sneak away from its responsibility to- We cannot expect much from those would already come into effect with the wards the rest of the world, only because negotiations: The SPD is more likely to introduction of the fiscal contract. it needs the funds resulting from a trans- cast out Willy Brandt than not to agree action tax to overcome the Euro crisis. The financing via a communal fund to the fiscal contract. Therefore the SPD shall assist the states to gain back the will sell her agreement cheaply, and Subsequently, other sources of reve- financial investors’ faith. But the goal of along with it also the Greens. Against nue must be found. Therefore it is ap- emancipatory politics should not be the the background of a severe crisis of the pears strange that the Greens’ claim for appeasement of the financial markets, EU that questions the European project a property tax cannot be found any but instead the overcoming of their dic- on a principal level, taxing financial longer in the paper they published to- tate on a permanent level – e.g. via transactions on a tenth of per cent level gether with the SPD: Different from the Eurobonds or the re-organisation of the cannot be considered as a major break- financial transaction tax, whose intro- ECB. through. Even the distribution of a cou- duction also depends on other European ple of billions for single projects here governments, some of them being stub- The proposal as a whole is not very and there is an inadequate response to born, the German government could promising either: Spain does not suffer the serious problems of the Monetary achieve much more by itself as far as a from a high debt level; it is its future Union and also the wrong rescue strat- property tax is concerned. perspectives that appear dark. Due to the egy of the German government. Who- amortisation fund Spain is only entitled ever aims to achieve a change in the to EUR 88 billion, which would barely politics of crisis management has to vote take away any pressure. The second big for DIE LINKE. insecure case, Italy, would not only have

Forum at the European Parliament “Another Road for Europe” Brussels, 28 June 2012, 9.00-18.30

The Appeal “Another Road for up a debate at the European level be- (Macroeconomic policies and finance, Europe” invites civil society or- tween activists, experts, political forces Green New Deal and employment, De- ganisations, social movements, and policy makers on the viable actions mocracy) and to have a first, informal networks, trade unions and politi- that European and national institutions, exchange of views on the most relevant cal forces to a one-day discus- political forces and social organisations policy proposals, in order to be able to sion at the European Parliament can take to move beyond neoliberal understand which are those around in Brussels on the ways out of the policies, and towards a sustainable and which we could build a common ap- European crisis. democratic Europe, free from discrimi- proach and, if possible, future common nations and inequalities. This initiative is or coordinated actions. Many appeals, texts, proposals are be- part of a range of activities that are being ing launched about the future of Europe Each session will be introduced by organised at the European level on alter- and about the way out of the crisis. The speakers from civil society organisations natives to the crisis. We propose to or- aim of this event is to contribute to open and experts’ networks who will summa- ganise the meeting around three issues

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rise the proposals that have emerged on . Introductory Remarks: Trevor Evans Germany), Marisa Matias (European each topic, opening up a discussion with (Euromemorandum) United Left, Portugal), etc. activists, representatives of different . Proposals from activists and experts: . Discussion political forces and Members of the Dany Lang (Economistes atterrés), . Lunch break European Parliament. The aim is to Ronald Janssen (ETUC), Andrea 15.00-17.30 contribute to the emergence of shared Della Vecchia (Joint Social Confer- 3. A democratic Europe – Participa- proposals for alternative policies at the ence), Antonio Tricarico tion and decision making at European European and national levels. Partici- (Re:Common), Corporate Europe level pants will include a wide range of civil Observatory, Greek activist (tbc), . Chair: Monica Frassoni (European society organisations, networks, Trade Andrew Simms (New Economics Greens) Unions, experts and intellectuals, as well Foundation), Andrea Baranes (Fon- . Opening and review of alternative as the progressive political forces in the dazione Responsabilità Etica), etc. proposals European Parliament. . Members of the European Parliament . Introductory Remarks: Rossana Ros- and political forces: Leonardo Domi- sanda (Il Manifesto), Susan George Participant organisations nici (Socialists and Democrats), Liem (Attac France and Transnational Insti- Active Citizenship Network, Arci, Attac Hoang Ngoc (Socialists and Democ- tute) France, Attac Germany, Attac Finland, rats, France), Jürgen Klute (European . Proposals from activists and experts: Corporate Europe Observatory, Econo- United Left, Germany), Philippe Rosemary Bechler (Open Demo- mistes Atterrés, Euromemorandum, Lamberts (Greens/EFA, Belgium), cracy), Pier Virgilio Dastoli (Federal- European Alternatives, European Feder- Patrick Le Hyaric (European United ists), Giulio Marcon (Sbilancia- alist Movement, Fiom-Cgil, Il Mani- Left, France), Gianni Pittella, vice- moci!), Hilary Wainwright (Red Pep- festo, Joint Social Conference, New president of the European Parliament per, UK), Sarah King (ETUC), Economics Foundation, OpenDemoc- (Socialists and Democrats), etc. Franco Carminati (Joint Social Con- racy.net, Red Pepper, Rete@sinistra, . Discussion ference), Massimo Torelli Sbilanciamoci!, Social Watch Italian 11.45-13.00 (Rete@sinistra), Daniel Seco (15M coalition, Soundings, transform!europe, 2. Avoiding a great depression: A movement, Barcelona), Lorenzo Transnational Institute, more to be green new deal, employment, ecologi- Marsili (European Alternatives), added cal conversion and common goods Tamsin Murray-Leach/Sean Deel Contact and information: . Chair: to be defined (London School of Economics), Raf- www.anotherroadforeurope.org . Opening and review of alternative faella Bolini (Arci), Luciana Castel- [email protected] proposals lina (former MEP), Roberto Musac- . Introductory Remarks: Pascal Petit chio (former MEP), Walter Baier Venue: (Université Paris 13) (transform!europe). European Parliament, Brussels . Proposals from activists and experts: . Members of the European Parlia- Room ASP 3G3 Philippe Pochet (ETUI), Etienne Le- ment: Isabelle Durant (Greens/EFA), PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME beau (Joint Social Conference), Mau- Paul Murphy (European United Left rizio Landini (Fiom-Cgil), Thomas Ireland), Rui Tavares (Greens/EFA), 9.00 . Opening: Isabelle Durant, vice- Coutrot (Attac France), Attac Germa- Gaby Zimmer (President, European president of the European Parliament ny, Mariya Ivancheva (European Al- United Left, Germany), etc. (Greens/EFA), Rossana Rossanda (il ternatives Bulgaria), Tommaso Fatto- . Discussion Manifesto) ri (Water campaign), Jason Nardi 17.30-18.30 (Social Watch Italian coalition), etc. Conclusions and proposals for action 9.15-11.45 . Members of the European Parliament with summaries of proposals from the 1. Taming finance – The Euro, finan- and political forces: Nikolas Chountis cial markets, debt and fiscal policies Chairs and discussion on the ways ahead (European United Left, Greece), Ste- and on future European initiatives . Chair: Mario Pianta (Sbilanciamoci!) fano Fassina (Partito Democratico, It- . Opening and review of alternative aly), Sven Gieglod (Greens/EFA, proposals

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Appeal “Stand with the Greek Left for a Democratic Europe!”

An initative by Etienne Balibar, Vicky Skoumbi, and Michel Vakaloulis

Sign at: http://blogs.mediapart.fr/edition/les-invites-de-mediapart/article/080612/avec-la-gauche-grecque-pour-une-europe-democrat (The text is also available in English, German, and Greek.)

“Peoples of Europe, Unite!” 7th Summer University of European Left and transform! europe Portaria/Greece, 17-22 July 2012

This year’s Summer University of the European Left Party and transform! europe will take place in Portaria, near the city of Volos, in the region of Thessaly in Greece, from 17 to 22 July. In the epicentre of the crisis, this Summer University will have the crisis as its transversal theme. General information: www.european-left.org/ and www.transform-network.net Programme: http://elsummeruniversity2012.wordpress.com/program/ Registration: http://elsummeruniversity2012.wordpress.com/registration/

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