(en) Impressions of an Andalusian anarchist of the movement in Greece (ca, fr)

I will try to translate the impressions, the result of a trip, I contacted generated the 
libertarian movement in Greece. Unfortunately I could not stay long and see many places, 
so that what is written here should not be interpreted beyond my personal view on what I 
experienced with colleagues there, and is therefore not a serious analysis of the 
anarchist movement and much less on the situation in the country. If we add that my 
membership usually walks more oriented work what might be called the base and the 
theoretical analysis, it is certain that will commit many mistakes. However, I hope I can 
give a rough idea of ??some aspects of the Greek movement and serve as guidance for those 
interested and who have no first-hand contact with.

Many of the things that happen in anarchism in Greece have some connection with debates 
that are taking place in the Spanish state, since few differences, we have much in common, 
both in the environment as libertarian as the general political situation.

It would be desirable to enhance contacts and connections between the two movements and 
other parts of the Mediterranean, as the economic and political situation forces us to 
develop a strong libertarian movement based on those points. In addition to the need to 
begin to work together (and always within an internationalist perspective, without 
detracting from the more extensive coordination environments on the planet), locally we 
can learn a lot from each other to get around the obstacles that make today for today the 
anarchist movement in both countries do not get to be a reference or grassroots political 
alternative. All this at a time when the left party, both orthodox and alternative wearing 
more clothes, unable to articulate a clear policy response to the regression as to rights 
that we are suffering, little dreaming breakthrough in raising social models, as well 
crystallizes the fascist threat every day and getting (especially in Greece and eastern 
Europe) establish their own plots of action both on the street and in the parliaments.

When you come to Greece the first thing that strikes us is that politics in general and 
particularly anarchism are much more present in the street than in our country. Upon 
arrival, seeing the urban landscape, you can not help but notice the large amount of 
graffiti and posters fill the walls and furniture. This is emphasized in universities, 
schools and hospitals. They, especially the first, literally plastered with all kinds of 
political propaganda and show almost always a banner referring to a political issue. 
Returning to the street, besides the typical graffiti signatures abound antifascists and 
especially the a circulated. In public buildings such as courts and government offices, 
there are always some spots be painted or paint thrown against them, even though, as I 
explained, are busy trying to keep them clean. On the other hand, the presence of fascism 
Golden Dawn also appears ominously in the walls of some areas of cities as Celtic crosses, 
but always crossed.

This importance of politics in Greece is confirmed when one begins to have contact with 
the people there. The number of political groups from cities like Thessaloniki and 
Ioannina (where I was most of the time) is increased tenfold compared to similar sized 
towns in the Spanish state. At both leftist parties of different size and coat as 
libertarian groups, assemblies and groups, as well as squats and social centers that serve 
political spaces. For instance I was quite surprised at Ioannina guys I met some chemistry 
students, who formed a group of his faculty that met in one of these centers and was 
political and social issues, not only referring to the student movement . Groups like this 
abound in Greece, so we can get an idea of ??the political turmoil and the number and 
variety of groups out there.

This brings us to an important aspect (with their pros and cons) of political movements 
and especially the libertarian in Greece: the youth of its members. The impression I got 
from these guys was very positive, surprising energy and seriousness with which militate. 
When they decide to call any background activity is used to advertise when and organize, 
especially in the case of actions and demonstrations, but also in the case of talks and 
events. While, for instance, in much of the Spanish state putting up posters is usually 
done in many cases in a while, in Greece filled their city, and not just mean working 
spaces where many people or organizations, but also to groups regardless of size. That 
same momentum you can see in rallies, demonstrations and pickets. I was fortunate to 
participate in several of these, relating to conflicts of ESE, and impressed with the 
energy expended on them, as well as the ability to call an anarcho small compared to the 
Spanish state. I found it amazing to see so many young people on the picket line and how 
to shout slogans and general attitude, very active, all for a long time by the standards here.

There are generally eager to do things, a lot of energy. The impression I got from the 
Greeks is that they are people of good heart, very noble, workers, nearby, like us yet 
with a distant point. They are very rebellious, much more than we see here, with one point 
even something innocent and idealistic (specifying that come from a city much given to the 
picaresque). They open perspectives as linked to anarchism, it shows they do not suffer 
the weight of history, tradition and the libertarian organizations mediate in Spain. You 
may also have to do with the character of the people there the striking movement absence 
of drugs in youth. Both the movement and in the college environment I was surprised that 
even raves people did not take anything other than the alcohol, and there was no one 
selling. I was told in most squatters if someone caught taking any kind of drug (including 
smoking joints) throw it away. It is true that you drink, but I saw a presence of alcohol 
as constant as here, and almost no one smokes hashish or marijuana, much less on the street.
perceived much less frivolous than there is here in the squatter movement. It is true that 
people have a more or less recognizable aesthetic, but are more austere and abused far 
fewer decorative elements (piercings, tattoos, dreadlocks, etc ...) I saw just say urban 
tribes and aesthetic concrete (punks , skins, hippies ...). Neither looked dirt which 
boast many times in other parts of Europe some companions, both personally and in 
buildings. Compared with squatters here, most I saw were much more neat and clean (with 
some exceptions), it is evident that the working people more. Generally in cities where I 
was squatting abounds as much as housing for youth as social centers, often mixing both. 
It seems that evictions are much less frequent (eg was in a squat in Athens that has spent 
20 years running). Participation in the squatters is very high, translating into a lot of 
activities, most well-equipped gyms, lectures, concerts, theater groups, dance, organic 
supermarkets and a thousand other things. I have particularly fond memories of which I 
frequented in Thessaloniki (Schole?o and Orfanotrofio) and Ioannina (Antiviosi).

There is another way to keep political space known there as "social centers" consisting of 
leased premises, in assemblies organized by different groups and a more stable character. 
Within these impressed "Micropolis" in Thessaloniki, a building run by the Movement 
Antiauthoritarian (Antieksousiastiri Kinisi.) Rent is paid with a coffee bar located on 
the first floor and the top no different cooperative projects such as a print shop , a 
supermarket and local products from fair trade, a kindergarten, a library, an infirmary 
for injured animals and stuff. I was shocked how well organized it was, but unfortunately 
I could not know much about the organization or movement to administer it, beyond it 
sounds formal organizational commitment within the libertarian and apparently now are 
pretty focused on the issue of the social economy and the recovery of areas. The 
references I had by other anarchists were in many cases seems somewhat centralized 
organization, which has caused some friction with other groups, but unfortunately I have 
not much information on that topic.

A vital aspect to understanding the Greek anarchist movement, as noted above, is the lack 
of tradition and anarchist organizations more or less classic. As I said before this has a 
positive effect as it has enabled a young movement, open and of great strength and 
dynamism. Unlike Spain has not fallen in the bureaucracy, rigidity and absurd controversy 
has often generated the "classical anarchism" and their organizations, and on the other 
side either in the frivolity and superficiality of that, perhaps in reaction, freckle more 
autonomous anarchism. But it is also true that it has its problems. In Greece, I was told, 
there is an identification of absurdity organization with authoritarianism and political 
parties, even to affect assembly-processes in their most basic aspects. In many cases 
(here I speak from hearsay because logically understood nothing at meetings I witnessed) 
develop the concept of the assembly agreements through working groups is unknown, even 
considering problems in collecting records or be responsible tasks. This results in 
difficulty in the participation of people with less available time youth and difficulty of 
maintaining complex organizational structures.

There is also something that the "tradition" anarchist (largely by anarcho-syndicalism) 
has left us in the Spanish state and that are missing: the conception of anarchism as an 
expression of the working class and poor people in general. Nor is that here we walk 
sobrados this recently, but there are more attempts in this direction, at least compared 
with anarchist movement considerably larger as Greek. No neighborhood in Greece many 
movements or social struggles with a character without being specifically 
anti-authoritarian anarchists in the Spanish state. Everything seems much more 
politicized, there seems to be the concept of social movements as we have here. 
Interestingly, the different evolution of the movement had begun in Syntagma squares over 
the Spanish 15M, having a much less left the first and in which most of the anarchists did 
not participate. Is this an advantage or a disadvantage? Given the political situation in 
Greece, it is possible that part of anarchism can create a libertarian grassroots movement 
without having to participate in social movements with the statist left, but not if the 
fact be directly self-described as an anarchist can be a limit for mass political action.

On the other hand some Greek anarchists sectors (called nihilists, which from what I have 
strong resemblance to insurrecionalismo that was in vogue a few years ago here) display an 
maximalism which makes them difficult to connect with the people and falls in the same 
mistake that often commits also here, having an attitude of rejection of "normal people". 
In favor of this sector of Greek anarchism, I must say that move much more than here, with 
a forcefulness actions we all know. Against this, this maximalist nature often leads them 
to cross the rest of the anarchist movement of "non-anarchist", having even been attacks 
on the rest of the anarchist movement in Thessalonica which led to an unfortunate struggle 
of tendencies.

Are interesting initiatives such as co-ESE, trying to create an anarcho-syndicalist 
organization in the complex Greek system (in which unions themselves there as here, but a 
kind of state corporations whose elections concur union groups.) As I said I was surprised 
the energy expended on the picket lines and the excellent relationships they have with 
members of the anarchist squatters (participating and being supported by them). I found a 
great point in his favor that being a small and relatively new organization does not 
support the weight of structures and in many cases inherited folklore suffered in the 
Spanish state. On the other hand, keeping the idea of ??the necessity of organization and 
struggle in the workplace is in Greece a great contribution to a movement that for years 
branded these struggles as reformers and contrary to anarchism.

Another interesting initiative is the self factory for building materials Vio.Me. The 
employer wants to close it, leaving it with the response of workers to meet the challenge 
of continuing the company collectively, supported by ESE, Antiauthoritarian Movement and 
other libertarian groups. Currently looking to relaunch the factory production raising the 
money by selling cleaning products through a cooperative marketing network, with the 
prospect of participating in a process of creating a social economy that allows an 
alternative to capitalist practices.

As you see there are issues similar to the ones in the Spanish state, with similar 
discussions about how to organize and connect with puebo. Unfortunately in Greece, despite 
the power of the movement did not see a great relationship with the popular classes who 
are suffering cuts. Talking to fellow Thessaloniki this topic CSOA commented that in the 
many activities we were there, but almost all participants were mostly young students. 
This is something that we can extrapolate the rest of the Greek anarchist movement. To my 
question about the activity of the Golden Dawn, I was told that by the middle of the city 
did not appear, as it is largely dominated by anarchists. By contrast, in the suburbs and 
humble, do not know for sure what the situation was, being sure that they had opened an 
office next to a police station not to be attacked, which proves its weakness in the 
street. They suspected were behind the organization of neighborhood assemblies to protest 
against prostitution and immigration in the neighborhood of a partner, but had not 
participated in them to counteract the activity. I found something similar when asked in 
Athens: there the presence of AD is stronger, especially in the slums, while anarchism is 
in a central location. This should lead to a significant reflection. In a place that was 
unthinkable a few years ago the presence of Nazis in the street and political life, have 
managed to sneak in institutions and begin to have their own space in some cities. They 
have managed to see and exploit the gaps that they have left, maneuvering skillfully, 
intelligently using dramatic effects media, getting action on the street with an excuse 
welfare, for example through food distributions (which precludes a direct attack by of 
anti-fascism). Overall the picture that I took of the Golden Dawn is less strong side of 
alarmism created by the media in Europe, but with a much more sinister and dangerous, the 
elusive and a movement that has been known to make it difficult to stop. We should discuss 
this while we still have time. In Greece so far have managed to cope with a street most 
overwhelming leftist, anarchist movement to a much more developed and stronger than ours 
and a very serious anti-fascism, prepared and thrown. But have used the lack of harmony of 
anarchism and left much of the people who are suffering cuts in Greece. Many who have 
fallen PASOK patronage system and small shopkeepers ruined come into play Golden Dawn. If 
the Greek comrades are unable to find the key may face a very serious problem in the 
coming years, as there is a reflux (as here) of the masses, tired of demonstrations and 
protests that have failed to stop the impoverishment and loss of rights suffered. The 
failure to build an alternative to the specific needs of impoverished Greeks, food, work, 
housing and health, many of them will fall also in the patronage of the Golden Dawn 
blackmail, nurturing them a force in the street they left face and support the 
institutions that can turn around the political situation. I think this is the great 
unfinished business of Greek anarchists, since the power of the movement will not be 
enough if they can not articulate that popular alternative. We here in the Spanish state, 
we also have to take note of this, because if a country like Greece, the Nazis are getting 
these things, here too can do and possibly more easily.

But I think the fellow Greeks have great potential to succeed in this onslaught. It's like 
I said before militant quality people are in a country where the left has always been 
strong, especially in many cases expressed a great interest in overcoming the roof appears 
has met the anarchist movement in Greece Despite all its force: the lack of organization 
and connection to the needs of the impoverished Greeks. In my time the discussions we had 
after giving a talk about the movement for housing and land occupation in Andalusia were 
very interesting and allowed me to see that people are thinking a lot about these issues 
and are aware of what is happening with the rise of fascism and cuts by government. At the 
end of the issues and debates are similar to those we have here, though perhaps with 
different resources count when dealing with them. What can we gather from all this? In my 
opinion, that to build a strong libertarian movement and is a true expression of the 
people's struggle is essential we compare experiences, establish links, see each other, 
talk, understand, and eventually fight together, here in Greece and rest of the world. We 
must proceed slowly, write a good hand, but we can not rest. All the time that we lost and 
wasted opportunities are exploited by the system, both in its "democratic" when rights us 
back to cost much recovered as in fascist slope, which is prepared as an alternative for 
the case that instability generated by the crisis do capitalists useful.

Special:
Greece
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