Understanding the Greek Election: the challenge for the radical Left: inside Syriza and/or outside?
I am not an expert on Greek politics, though I have been discussing with Greek anticapitalists for almost thirty years. It seems to me that it would be an excellent thing for the working class if Syriza won next week, but also that the pressures on a new Syriza government to abandon its anti-austerity programme will be enormous, and mass mobilization will be the key to defending our interests. What are the limits of a Left government in Europe in the 21st century? We are about to test this in practice. I am personally convinced that at some point a revolutionary option will be necessary, but this must come from the majority of Greek workers.
The question of anticapitalist tactics right now is not an easy one. I know good anticapitalist revolutionaries outside Syriza, who argue that organizational independence from Syriza allows them to offer clearer options. I also know good anticapitalist revolutionaries inside Syriza, who emphasize that inside Syriza the important debates about revolution and limits on left governments can be carried out with far bigger audiences, and also that, in a situation where most organized workers do not have a clear distinction in their minds between reformism and revolutionary politics, being inside the same organization as the left masses means you get a better hearing, (provided of course you can express all your ideas without repression, which seems to be generally the case).
I am personally more convinced by the second option, but in any case the debate is important because similar questions will be posed in many other countries. Naturally there is a danger being inside Syriza of gradually diluting one's politics so as not to be out of step with the rest of the movement. Naturally there is a danger being outside Syriza of gradually becoming more sectarian and abstract. Activists often don't decide to become sectarian or opportunist: it just creeps up on them.
In any case, here is some reading:
The SEK is an organization outside Syriza, and here is one expression of its present analysis (you can find many more on the same blog and elsewhere on the web)
Greek Election: the challenge for the radical Left
The DEA is an organization inside Syriza. here is a recent speech from one of its leading figures
http://socialistworker.org/2012/07/05/crisis-to-resistance-in-greece
and this piece from last May shows how it views the world:
http://socialistworker.org/2014/05/28/road-ahead-after-syrizas-victory
The question of anticapitalist tactics right now is not an easy one. I know good anticapitalist revolutionaries outside Syriza, who argue that organizational independence from Syriza allows them to offer clearer options. I also know good anticapitalist revolutionaries inside Syriza, who emphasize that inside Syriza the important debates about revolution and limits on left governments can be carried out with far bigger audiences, and also that, in a situation where most organized workers do not have a clear distinction in their minds between reformism and revolutionary politics, being inside the same organization as the left masses means you get a better hearing, (provided of course you can express all your ideas without repression, which seems to be generally the case).
I am personally more convinced by the second option, but in any case the debate is important because similar questions will be posed in many other countries. Naturally there is a danger being inside Syriza of gradually diluting one's politics so as not to be out of step with the rest of the movement. Naturally there is a danger being outside Syriza of gradually becoming more sectarian and abstract. Activists often don't decide to become sectarian or opportunist: it just creeps up on them.
In any case, here is some reading:
The SEK is an organization outside Syriza, and here is one expression of its present analysis (you can find many more on the same blog and elsewhere on the web)
Greek Election: the challenge for the radical Left
The DEA is an organization inside Syriza. here is a recent speech from one of its leading figures
http://socialistworker.org/2012/07/05/crisis-to-resistance-in-greece
and this piece from last May shows how it views the world:
http://socialistworker.org/2014/05/28/road-ahead-after-syrizas-victory
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