THE LESSONS OF GREECE

A Workers’ International Network meeting

Sunday 21st November at 4 pm GMT

In the years 2010-2015, Greece was gripped in a popular revolt against the harsh programme of austerity imposed upon it by the so-called “troika” (the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund). During these years there were mass protest rallies, assemblies, occupations of city squares, a prolonged siege of parliament, and dozens of general strikes. In January 2015 a previously obscure coalition of small anti-capitalist parties (SYRIZA) was swept to power. When it called a referendum to determine its response in July 2015, the population voted overwhelmingly to defy the bankers. And then… SYRIZA promptly capitulated and signed a crippling deal that plunged Greece even deeper into debt, poverty and humiliation.

What lessons can be learned by labour militants worldwide from this experience? And what are the prospects for a new upsurge in Greece?

Anthony Koliokotsis is a Greek Marxist, formerly a member of PASOK and currently a critical member of SYRIZA. He gives a personal perspective on these issues.

For background information, read Defiance: Greece and Europe 

http://www.zero-books.net/books/defiance-greece-europe 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Defiance-Greece-Europe-Roger-Silverman-ebook/dp/B01KIS4IXI 

8 am California

11 am New York

4 pm London

5 pm Paris, Berlin and Central Europe

6 pm Nicosia, Athens and South Africa

9 pm Lahore

9-30 pm Mumbai and Colombo

Midnight Manila

The Workers’ International Network meets every week, bringing together activists from the front line of struggles worldwide to review collectively the lessons of their experiences. Video recordings of all our meetings are publicly available for viewing on the WIN website https://www.onthebrink.online/category/win-youtube/