Another Europe with Syriza
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- Published on Tuesday, 10 February 2015 20:22
- Written by editor
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A Socialist Project e-bulletin .... No. 1080 .... February 11, 2015
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Another Europe with Syriza
Donatella della Porta
There is no doubt that the near majority obtained by Syriza in the elections last month represent a point-of-no-return for Europe. This is the result most feared by the rulers of several countries and, above all, by the financial powers that have undertaken an intense campaign of threats, based on the idea of an increasingly liberal Europe, according to which a victory by Syriza would endanger stability and (purported) economic growth. But it is also the most desirable result for those who have a different conception of Europe, one of solidarity and democracy instead of competition and of decisions coming from on high -- ‘Another Europe’ of social justice and popular participation that in recent years has become... increasingly difficult to believe in.
Beyond the internal and external challenges that will confront the Alexis Tsipras government, and beyond the reaction that will come from the political-financial authorities, the electoral campaign and its conclusion already provide some helpful ideas in attempting to construct an idea of Another Europe.
There is undoubtedly, above all, a clear sign of rejection of the arrogance of those who presently govern Europe -- indifferent as they are to every warning coming from the citizens of Europe. Indifference to the indicators of an EU in a very deep crisis of legitimacy; to the dramatic collapse of trust in its institutions from 2008 to the present; to the two-thirds of European citizens for whom Europe evokes negative sentiments; to the elections that have above all punished the kindred members of the European People's Party. The institutional response has been to continue with the politics and policies, which have not only become unpopular, but also ineffective.
