Chrysalis

June 17th is the date set for Greece’s elections, being re-run of course because those party’s recently elected could not agree to a formula for government. The world (not an exaggeration) is on tender hooks in anticipation of the political map these elections might draw up.
Results could impact the continued involvement of Greece in the Euro; this alone could have contagion effects that will spread to Spain, Portugal, Italy and Ireland and by extension the rest of the EU and the wider Global economy. This is in itself a frightening prospect as the unknown elements are potentially so destructive.
However, I am as if not more worried about the who of the election. The rise of party’s like Golden Dawn with their slogan ‘Greece: Only for the Greeks’ in particular give serious rise for concern. They have significant Neo-Nazi undertones, while claiming their roots in ancient Greece their actions seem more Third Reich. Journalists at a recent press conference were told they had to stand as party leader Nikolaos Michaloliakos entered the room, the party members use a Nazi style salute and the party’s main policy is the removal of immigrants from Greece who they argue are to blame for the current financial woes.
Golden Dawn in itself do not pose the most significant threat, the threat I worry of is the mood they are tapping into. Ancient Greece and Rome knew the power of controlling the ‘Mob’; they knew political power lay in the control and compliance of the masses. Right now in Greece people are suffering, we hear reports of some rummaging in the bins for food, in 2012, in a supposed developed nation. So when Golden Dawn talks of the benefits of the former military dictatorship and with people starting to listen it’s not hard to see why they won 21 seats in the recent polls and could increase that on June 17th.
Let’s not forget that dictatorship only lost power in 1974, could they return? Why not? Recent polls showed that up to 30% of the Greek police force voted for Golden Dawn, is it that much of a stretch that if the mood turns more volatile on the streets that a revolution could occur. Take the scenario that Greece leaves the Euro and becomes increasingly isolated, the World Bank takes over economic oversight and austerity (if even possible) goes deeper, and how long will the Greek people take it?
Also we must remember that we have a Technocrat appointed to rule in Italy and Greece, appointments foisted on them by their EU, global and financial partners. Un-elected technocratic leaders appointed to rule in times of crises…Ancient Rome’s Dictators anyone?
Add to all this the rise of extremism in Hungary and the Ukraine, likely results in Slovakia as well as increased support for far right and far left groups in Holland, France and Germany and it is not hard to see the potential for European upheaval within the lifetime of this generation. History has taught us that nothing is permanent so we should not be arrogant enough to think we have finally found the panacea for peace.
I for one hope I am wrong but I also feel it is a conversation we need to have more openly if only to ensure that decisions are made for the right reasons; reasons of peace and prosperity. We need to redraw the rules, possibly abandon the political formula we have been following, re-look at rampant capitalism and look at true social democracy as they way forward.
Who knows…