AS THIS IS BEING WRITTEN, the people of Greece are responding to the invitation of their government to participate in making a decision that will determine the future economic life of their country. For the first time since the rise in the power, influence and hegemony of neo-liberal ideology and practice since the 1980s, an elected government has invited its population to intervene directly into discussions with external creditors and international financial institutions.
Those amongst us who have been concerned that the forces of neo-liberalism require a disempowered, disenfranchised, de-politicised public for their success have not been surprised by the mainstream reaction to the decision by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to “let the people decide”. As noted by Nobel laureate Joseph Stieglitz in a Project Syndicate online article, “the concern for popular legitimacy is incompatible with the politics of the eurozone, which was never a very democratic project”.
For the most part therefore, the world’s leading countries which position themselves as the champions of “democracy” have been reacting with indignation at the decision by the Greek leader to hold a referendum and “bring the people in”. Some have painted him as irresponsible for calling the referendum when a “settlement” to the approaching International Monetary Fund repayment deadline was being negotiated. Moreover, by defaulting on a payment, by taking a firm stand against austerity, by opening the possibility of leaving the euro, the left-of-centre Greek government, which was elected on an anti-austerity ticket in January, is presenting a concrete example that independent states DO NOT have to surrender their policy options to the dictates of external creditors.
To a large extent therefore, the ongoing Greek saga is a test-example to governments of a possible political alternative. It is a lesson which the global forces of neo-liberalism would do everything to disallow. This is why a hard line was taken against Greece in relation to the extensions of deadlines, debt restructuring and bailouts. It was almost as if the very future of the world depended on it.
Conversely, the Greek government also understood what was at stake, and strengthened its will to respond accordingly. Given that it is in the interest of neo-liberals to reduce as much as possible popular democratic resistance against austerity, Tsipras’ response has provided a unique lesson to all similarly beleaguered governments who are willing to learn: the best defence against neo-liberal adjustment is an empowered people.
However, there is little optimism that Caribbean governments will copy Greece. Our current leaders have been too socialised in notions of their own powerlessness to adopt such a brave and noble course of action. Concerned only with survival, very few will be willing to risk electoral defeat so quickly into a first term. In their minds, it is far easier to burden the people than to resist bowing to external creditors.
• Tennyson Joseph is a political scientist at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, specialising in regional affairs. Email tjoe2008@live.com.
