My postings here will resume but be episodic for a few weeks as I am commissioned to write a book in short order on the Greek crisis, Syriza and socialist strategy. The plan for that writing includes weekly gobbets on Greece and the politics of the austerity crisis in Europe. Here are what I hope […]
01 Feb
Assert, don’t defend. Fight, fight, fight. —Andrew Bolt, “[Abbott] Government behind 46 to 54. But here’s how it can recover”, 15 December 2014 [Campbell Newman] just seemed arrogant and beyond the control of voters — a fatal flaw in Australian politics. Abbott hasn’t had Newman’s freedom to smash through as he tackles another Labor debt, […]
27 Jan
This was written as part of Kevin’s live blogging of the post-election manoeuvres, in response to the shock many readers felt at Syriza’s coalition agreement with the right-wing ANEL (Independent Greeks). We thought it deserved a standalone post that people could come back to easily, before Kevin delivers his final dispatch — a full post-election […]
24 Jan
Comments Off on Dispatch from Athens #12: Show some Left initiative
NOTE: Kevin’s liveblog of the election is already up & running HERE Let’s show some initiative on the Left It’s pouring down in Athens. It’s not put a dampener on people’s spirits, however. A quick visit to the local square for a coffee brought me into an animated discussion with a fluid group of people […]
23 Jan
Voices from Syriza’s Left “Communist”, “Eurocommunist”, “radical Left”, “anti-capitalist”, “plural”, “a coalition of the radical Left”, “a new Left”, “a recomposition of the old Left”, “Left-reformist”… There are many characterisations of Syriza. In part, that is a reflection of the heterogeneous make-up of the coalition, which was founded in 2004 and turned itself into a […]
23 Jan
#VoteSyriza2015 Greek Election Liveblog [View the story “#VoteSyriza2015 Greek Election Liveblog” on Storify] Previous dispatches Left Flank exclusive: Daily reports on Greece’s election Dispatch from Athens #1: Rules of the game Dispatch from Athens #2: The Right cornered, but fighting Dispatch from Athens #3: Fear meets a movement of hope Dispatch from Athens #4: […]
20 Jan
Everyone has their rationality — that’s the problem What is Syriza? For the champions of free market economic liberalism at the Economist the answer is simple. It is one of the mad, bad and dangerously “extremist” forces which have failed to grasp the universal benefits which are to be found in capitalist “globalisation”. It is […]
18 Jan
Comments Off on Dispatch from Athens #9: After the election, the deluge?
After the election, the deluge? All the polls today continue to put Syriza ahead. The scope for speculation over the result next Sunday has narrowed. Immediate expectation is defined by two questions. Can Syriza win an absolute majority? And what will be the precise distribution of votes outside the two poles of the Left and […]
17 Jan
Comments Off on Dispatch from Athens #8: Shahzad Luqman zindabad!
Dispatch from Athens #8: Shahzad Luqman zindabad! A joyful gathering in Athens. Warm and funny. Also insightful and serious about the political developments we had met to discuss and organise around. A few hours raced by. Then the awful, heartbreaking news. It was two years ago today that two supporters of the fascist, criminal conspiracy […]
17 Jan
Comments Off on Dispatch from Athens #7: The strategic question is posed
The strategic question is posed, whether the Left asks it or not On the eve of the last campaigning weekend before the historic Greek general election you would be forgiven for thinking that the public mood must be febrile to the point of convulsion. A friend from Beirut PMed me to ask, “It must be […]
25 Feb
4 Comments