It was September 2008, shortly before the outbreak of the greatest international financial crisis since 1929.
The new leader of SYRIZA, Alexis Tsipras, was organizing his team and attempting to establish the daily operation of his party.
He was trying to approach the political developments, to see where the country and the economy were headed. His partners typically described the prospects from within the scope of the small, at the time, party.
What someone pointed out the Mr. Tsipras’ entourage that a modern Left party ought to focus on the upcoming financial developments, because they would be explosive and woul spread a crisis all over the world, starting with Greece, he was almost treated dismissively. The so-called group theoretician argued that “capitalism is powerful and in no danger”.
Fifteen-twenty days later and Lehman Brothers went bankrupt, the American financial system was in danger of collapsing and soon after the greater post-war debt crisis spread to Europe, plaguing its weakest link first, which was none other than Greece.
Nobody had any expectations from such a small party to have made such extensive considerations. However the shortcomings in SYRIZA and the arrogance of the “left truth” were apparent.
Since then, a lot has occurred, the crisis literally destroyed Greece, SYRIZA took advantage of the consequences, exhausted the communicative opportunities offered up by the weakness of their opponents and emerged as the primary force, with a good opportunity to be the next in line for authority.
At the time, we spoke of his capabilities and the opportunity he had in governing Greece. Before the elections we documented that opportunity, while pointing out though that the historic experience of the Left was not the best. The Left had literally wasted all previous opportunities.
Over time, the Left-wing leaderships were distinguished for their childish political mistakes.
The post-war leadership, that emerged after the liberation from German occupation, is considered the most characteristic case.
It has been documented in history that the Left leadership at the time, in spite of the many warnings, was unable to absorb and understand the new post-war balances and did not have the necessary flexibility to adapt to the new environment,
It was led astray by obsessions and fixations, from the hatred and passions of the time and in an unfortunate and detrimental – for the country and itself – armed conflict, counting on help and support from Stalin, when the Soviet leader had already agreed with Churchill and Roosevelt on splitting up the post-war world in Yalta.
All things considered, in our present case the flexibility and understanding of the modern world’s complexity, of the alliances and interests that define it, are lacking.
On the contrary, there is no shortage of obsessions, fixations and simplistic, linear approaches in SYRIZA.
The way things are turning out, it is not unlikely for the Left to waste this historic opportunity. Perhaps this one, in itself, is of no concern.
Everyone is worried and concerned about the incalculable cost of a potential – and likely, for many – major failure of Mr. Tsipras’ government.
Antonis Karakousis
Originally published in the Sunday print edition
