“Fair Greece! And relic of departed worth! Immortal, though no more; though fallen great!” Lord Byron
Byron fought for Greece, inspired by the Classical civilisation and progressive nationalism, which once was able to look beyond its own borders and favour the people of oppressed nations. As a “Great British Poet”, I am sure Nigel Farage would rate Lord Byron: Byron, on the other hand, would have despised the Little Englander, who aspires to derail the European gravy train from the snug comfort of its Restaurant Car.
Byron thought the Greek struggle important enough to risk and lose his life: to malaria in the swamps of Missolonghi. In a different way, I would argue that the struggle in Greece today is every bit as important; maybe more so. Greece is at the intersection of 4 great contests which affect and intensify each other:
• The struggle of migrants and borders;
• The struggle against racism and fascism;
• The struggle against EU discipline and austerity; and
• The vast, underlying struggle between Labour and Capital.
For this reason, the outcome in Greece will have consequences across Europe and the world. We, in currently relatively passive Britain, will ignore its lessons at our peril.
MIGRANTS & BORDERS
Greece is key in the so-called “Migrant Crisis” (in fact, the crisis of Western intervention in the Middle and Near East and Africa) for the same reason as its birth as a nation: geography. It sits across an intersection of trade and migration routes. It is the South eastern gateway to Europe, in, or out, of the EU. That the influx of refugees has coincided with a major wave of class struggle and anti-racist action is accidental, but it has had a radicalising effect on Greeks and refugees alike. They have a common enemy in Greece’s police force, heavily infiltrated by the Fascist Golden Dawn. It raises the whole issue of borders (largely mapped out in the 19yh century) and reminds Greeks of their own diaspora from Turkey. Communal traditions have not yet broken down in Greece, and many have stepped forward to help.
RACISM & FASCISM
Because of the post war restoration of the monarchy, by British-officered Greek Fascists, and the ensuing Civil War, there was no de-Nazification in post-war Greece. The military and police were, and are, riddled with them: the so-called “Deep State” has been tip-toed round by every “democratic” government (only since 1974!) including Syriza. Why else was Kammenos of the Independent Greeks (Greek UKIP) given the key “Deep State” Ministry, Defence? Why else would Tsipras shake the hand of the butcher Al-Sissi?
The fight against fascism in Greece also challenges the “Deep State” as well as employers refusing to pay (and shooting!) migrant workers. In addition, it challenges sectarianism on the Left, forcing them to work together.
EU DISCIPLINE & AUSTERITY
I write this the day after a major Greek General Strike (12-11-15) against cuts. ADADY (public sector), GCEE (private sector), PAME (Communist Party-aligned) and META (Syriza-aligned) unions all called the strike together. That, in itself, is a somewhat remarkable display of unity! That it was called against a Syriza government, yet supported by Syriza, requires some explanation. That it was called after the main party of the working class, Syriza, had surrendered to the EU gives an indication that the EU has not yet won and that the Greek working class has experienced a major radicalisation.
Greece’s unions are a mixture of sector-based and political federations. Operating together is a new experience for them. It is also an indication of the depths of the crisis that has beset the working class. It demands a unified approach. The Last time Syriza supported mass strikes, their solution was “vote for us”. This is no longer open to them, for obvious reasons! All they can say is “we are doing this reluctantly”. Syriza’s rank and file, however, still wants to fight the cuts. This is a situation with which we are familiar under Labour: would this be what a Corbyn government would be like? It looks like Syriza is heading for a major soul-searching in the not-too-distant future, without the benefit that Labour has of a generations-long tradition!
LABOUR & CAPITAL
Greece is in the front line in the struggle between the working class and capitalism. This struggle underlies all the others, gives them added urgency and is itself made more acute. The alignment of capitalists, the “Deep State” and “immigration control” is becoming daily more prominent. The battle lines are being drawn. Uniting the working class requires opposing fascism and aligning with refugees; opposing oppression goes hand-in-hand with resisting exploitation; aligning with refugees and fighting austerity lead inexorably to fighting the EU.
And all of this has an immediate effect on the fightback elsewhere in Europe. Reformism is simply not up to the task. It requires the turning of the whole world upside down.
We must start by opposing our own little Hitlers and corporate bureaucrats, but we must also give our support to refugees and Greek workers: it is, in effect, the same battle.
Tim Nicholls
