Social Democracy or Revolutionary Democracy: Syriza and Us
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- Published on Saturday, 01 August 2015 22:15
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A Socialist Project e-bulletin .... No. 1149 .... August 2, 2015
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Social Democracy or Revolutionary Democracy: Syriza and Us
Michael A. Lebowitz
All eyes on the Left are upon Greece. Not because of a general interest in the contradictions of capitalism in the midst of this particular crisis but because of Syriza. Unfortunately, what we are observing is not unique to Syriza. The story has been told before, and the story inevitably will occur again if we do not learn from it. Rather than debating the arguments of individuals (many of them good comrades) who may hold different views, I think it is essential to try to understand how this happened and why.
Let me begin by setting out my premises, which may be sufficient to draw a red line between my argument and that... of some others:
1. For several years, Syriza has been the hope of the working-class in Greece, Europe and in every country suffering from neoliberalism and austerity. It was sending a message that a better opposition was possible; and as such it was an inspiration to similar anti-austerity struggles (in particular, that of Podemos in Spain).
2. European and Greek capital was determined to kill that messenger. Accordingly, it was and is relentless in its determination to send a quite different message: TINA, there is no alternative to neoliberalism and austerity.
3. Despite its programme as a party, the platform on which it was elected to govern and a strong popular vote endorsing its rejection of the demands of European capital, the Syriza government totally capitulated and accepted a colonial status for Greece.
4. It is never too late (or too soon) to unleash the creative power of the masses.