US NYC Black Rose Anarchist Federation / Federación Anarquista Rosa Negra

Today in NYC!  #TheLeftInPower Critical perspecrives on Podemos in Spain and Syriza in 
Spain. Anarchist Perspectives on Syriza and Podemos with comrades from Greece and Spain 
April 21, 2015, 7:00pm ---- The New School: Albert And Vera List Academic CenterJoin the 
NYC Local of the Black Rose Anarchist Federation for a discussion about anarchist 
responses to the recent surge of left electoralism in Southern Europe and its implications 
for genuine anti-authoritarian resistance around the world. ---- With: Miguel Pérez - 
member of the CNT and Grupo Libertario de Acción Directa (GLAD) in Madrid; Malamas 
Sotirlou and Vasilis Sourlas - Anti-authoritarian Movement of Greece, Assembly of 
Thessaloniki (speakers will be joining us via skype). ---- Location: Wolff Conference 
Room, Rm 1103 at 6. E 16th St.

In 2011 Southern Europe, like the United States, saw an upsurge of square-based, 
horizontal resistance movements that rejected hierarchical and electoral organizational 
models in favor of democratic assemblies. After the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) 
and the Greek Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok) accepted harsh austerity measures 
after the financial crisis the futility of social democracy in the face unbridled 
capitalism was obvious. Yet, since the decline of the Spanish 15M and the Greek Squares 
movement, Southern Europe has seen a revival of left electoralism most pronounced in the 
examples of Syriza, which won the Greek general election in January, and Podemos, which 
won 5 seats in the European Parliament last May.

But after gaining power, Syriza started down the same path as its predecessor by accepting 
austerity mandates from European capital. Meanwhile Pablo Iglesias of Podemos is 
attempting to claim leadership over a leaderless movement in order to ride a wave of 
nebulous 'apolitical' populism into power. Despite the international media focus on these 
political parties and their leaders, anarchists, and autonomists in Greece and Spain have 
continued to promote genuinely unti-authoritarian politics and praxis. Come learn about 
anarchist responses to Syriza and Podemos and join a discussion about the relation between 
anarchism, elections and capitalism.

http://www.blackrosefed.org/