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Papers by Michalis Spourdalakis
Socialist Register, 1985
The October 1981 Greek election which climaxed the Panhellenic Socialist Movement's 'shor... more The October 1981 Greek election which climaxed the Panhellenic Socialist Movement's 'short march to power' was justifiably greeted with widespread enthusiasm by the left in the West. PASOK's victory not only terminated over half a century of right-wing rule (including a brutal seven year dictatorship) but also followed the socialist victory in France in the midst of the Reagan-Thatcher-Kohl reaction, thus disproving at least momentarily the mythology of a right-wing resurgence. Nor did this pleasant Greek surprise end with one term in power. In June 1985 PASOK won another decisive victory, and the renewal of its mandate seems to show that socialist governments need not be a mere interlude to rightwing rule in this era of chronic capitalist crisis. Now that the Greek Socialists are comfortably into their second term (with even the opposition admitting that they are there to stay), it is time to examine the record of PASOK in office. This is what this short article intends to do. After some brief reference to the period of PASOK's 'short march to power', we will examine the economic, labour and social policies of Papandreou's Government; its foreign policy; the changes it brought about in the hydrocephalous Greek state apparatus; and finally, the nature of the oppositio
American Political Science Review, 1989
Although Greece acquired the formal institutions of liberal constitutional democracy early in her... more Although Greece acquired the formal institutions of liberal constitutional democracy early in her independent history, her politics have been characterized by clientelism, instability and frequent military intervention. The most blatant instance of 'praetorianism' was the military dictatorship of 1967-74. Yet in the years since the Colonels' downfall, the political system appears to have acquired a new legitimacy. Although many features of the 'old' politics remain, recent years have seen the collapse of the traditional centre and the emergence of new political formations, reflecting the rapid pace of post-war socio-economic change. And 1981 saw the election by a convincing majority of a socialist government, the first ever in Greece, committed to radical domestic transformation and to a major reorientation of external relations.
State Transformations: Classes, Strategy, Socialism, 2021
Studies in Political Economy, 2008
International Critical Thought, 2014
The article focuses on the rise of SYRIZA, not only on the Greek political scene but also as a le... more The article focuses on the rise of SYRIZA, not only on the Greek political scene but also as a leading model for the radical left worldwide. More concretely, the article: (a) analyzes the developments that have brought SYRIZA to prominence on the Greek political scene and to the epicenter of political resistance to neoliberalism; (b) presents its strategy which appears to be leading to a possible, albeit long process of social transformation; (c) presents and analyzes SYRIZA's organizational initiatives that aimed at consolidating the party's strategic success; and (d) outlines the challenges lying ahead that may place its radical orientation at risk. Although the article sets off from the Greek political developments, given the tendency for uniformity of social conditions imposed by austerity politics, one can find insights in the Greek for many other settings for socialist strategy.
South European Society and Politics, 2006
... In the March 2004 elections PASOK was defeated, despite the mobilization around its new leade... more ... In the March 2004 elections PASOK was defeated, despite the mobilization around its new leaderGiorgos Papandreou, who had ... However, it is worth making reference to: Sevastakis (2004); Pantazopoulos (2003; 2004); Loulis (2004); Pappas (2004); Bilios (2005); Verney ...
Political Science Quarterly, 1989
... The rise of the Greek socialist party. Post a Comment. CONTRIBUTORS: Author: Spourdalakis, Mi... more ... The rise of the Greek socialist party. Post a Comment. CONTRIBUTORS: Author: Spourdalakis, Michalis. PUBLISHER: Routledge (London and New York). SERIES TITLE: YEAR: 1988. PUB TYPE: Book (ISBN 0415004993 ). VOLUME/EDITION: PAGES (INTRO/BODY): 331 p. ...
European Journal of Political Research, 1994
Socialist Register, 1985
The October 1981 Greek election which climaxed the Panhellenic Socialist Movement's 'shor... more The October 1981 Greek election which climaxed the Panhellenic Socialist Movement's 'short march to power' was justifiably greeted with widespread enthusiasm by the left in the West. PASOK's victory not only terminated over half a century of right-wing rule (including a brutal seven year dictatorship) but also followed the socialist victory in France in the midst of the Reagan-Thatcher-Kohl reaction, thus disproving at least momentarily the mythology of a right-wing resurgence. Nor did this pleasant Greek surprise end with one term in power. In June 1985 PASOK won another decisive victory, and the renewal of its mandate seems to show that socialist governments need not be a mere interlude to rightwing rule in this era of chronic capitalist crisis. Now that the Greek Socialists are comfortably into their second term (with even the opposition admitting that they are there to stay), it is time to examine the record of PASOK in office. This is what this short article int...
Socialist Register, 2012
Fear and hope were the two dominant sentiments generated by the unprecedented recent electoral ad... more Fear and hope were the two dominant sentiments generated by the unprecedented recent electoral advances of the radical political coalition of the Greek left, Syriza. On the one hand there was fear of the established hierarchies of capital, the profit-making forces within Greece and abroad, as well as of important geopolitical interests. It was a fear that became more explicit after the May 2012 election (when Syriza had already tripled its vote to 16.9 per cent from 4.6 per cent in 2009), when the prospect of winning the June election seemed quite realistically to be around the corner. It was then that the international institutions displayed their concerns and fears about the rise of the left to power. This could be seen in their hinting at certain concessions with regard to Syriza’s programmatic claims while at the same time waging a cheap propaganda war that intervened directly in the electoral campaign, alongside a degree of scaremongering by domestic business, intellectual and ...
In the last few years, the political alignments in the European Union (EU) countries have changed... more In the last few years, the political alignments in the European Union (EU) countries have changed drastically. In the 1990s, social democratic parties and centre-left political forces were dominant. Under the banners of “progressive governance” or “modernization” these parties ruled numerous countries and dominated the political scene on the continent. Today, it is no secret that after long years in government, these political forces, what some like to call the “governmental left” are, to say the least, in retreat. It is indeed no secret that social democracy is in deep crisis: The recent congress of the French Socialists proved that this party is going through a period of self-questioning over the issue of its leadership, but also that it had nothing new to offer or, as a conservative daily commented, it appears as if “it does not think any more.” In Germany the situation is even worse as the social democratic party, the SPD, is displaying an unprecedented obsession over the person...
South European Society and Politics, 2014
Socialist Register, Mar 18, 1986
The October 1981 Greek election which climaxed the Panhellenic Socialist Movement's 'short march ... more The October 1981 Greek election which climaxed the Panhellenic Socialist Movement's 'short march t o power' was justifiably greeted with widespread enthusiasm by the left in the West. PASOK's victory not only terminated over half a century of right-wing rule (including a brutal seven year dictatorship) but also followed the socialist victory in France in the midst of the Reagan-Thatcher-Kohl reaction, thus disproving at least momentarily the mythology of a right-wing resurgence. Nor did this pleasant Greek surprise end with one term in power. In June 1985 PASOK won another decisive victory, and the renewal of its mandate seems t o show that socialist governments need not be a mere interlude t o rightwing rule in this era of chronic capitalist crisis. Now that the Greek Socialists are comfortably into their second term (with even the opposition admitting that they are there to stay), it is time to examine the record of PASOK in office. This is what this short article intends to do. After some brief reference to the period of PAS,OK's 'short march to power', we will examine the economic, labour and social policies of Papandreou's Government; its foreign policy; the changes it brought about in the hydrocephalous Greek state apparatus; and finally, the nature of the opposition to its rule. PASOK's 'Short March to Power' The Panhellenic Socialist Movement appeared on the Greek political scene in 1974, in the immediate post-junta period. It was established by activists from the mid-sixties and especially from the anti-junta resistance who had gathered around the charismatic personality of Andreas Papandreou, in addition to a number of radical and Marxist groups and individuals which the dictatorship had brought to life. It was the expression of the social radicalism which resulted from the peculiar economic development of the country during the two decades following the war. It was a radicalism, as the mid-sixties social unrest had indicated and as the opposition to the Junta regime proved, of the political alliance between the old social strata (simple commodity producers and the peasantry), *I am grateful to Leo Panitch for his constructive criticisms and vital editorial assistance as well as to Helga Stefanson, who took great pains to make my English printable.
Socialist Register, 1985
The October 1981 Greek election which climaxed the Panhellenic Socialist Movement's 'shor... more The October 1981 Greek election which climaxed the Panhellenic Socialist Movement's 'short march to power' was justifiably greeted with widespread enthusiasm by the left in the West. PASOK's victory not only terminated over half a century of right-wing rule (including a brutal seven year dictatorship) but also followed the socialist victory in France in the midst of the Reagan-Thatcher-Kohl reaction, thus disproving at least momentarily the mythology of a right-wing resurgence. Nor did this pleasant Greek surprise end with one term in power. In June 1985 PASOK won another decisive victory, and the renewal of its mandate seems to show that socialist governments need not be a mere interlude to rightwing rule in this era of chronic capitalist crisis. Now that the Greek Socialists are comfortably into their second term (with even the opposition admitting that they are there to stay), it is time to examine the record of PASOK in office. This is what this short article intends to do. After some brief reference to the period of PASOK's 'short march to power', we will examine the economic, labour and social policies of Papandreou's Government; its foreign policy; the changes it brought about in the hydrocephalous Greek state apparatus; and finally, the nature of the oppositio
American Political Science Review, 1989
Although Greece acquired the formal institutions of liberal constitutional democracy early in her... more Although Greece acquired the formal institutions of liberal constitutional democracy early in her independent history, her politics have been characterized by clientelism, instability and frequent military intervention. The most blatant instance of 'praetorianism' was the military dictatorship of 1967-74. Yet in the years since the Colonels' downfall, the political system appears to have acquired a new legitimacy. Although many features of the 'old' politics remain, recent years have seen the collapse of the traditional centre and the emergence of new political formations, reflecting the rapid pace of post-war socio-economic change. And 1981 saw the election by a convincing majority of a socialist government, the first ever in Greece, committed to radical domestic transformation and to a major reorientation of external relations.
State Transformations: Classes, Strategy, Socialism, 2021
Studies in Political Economy, 2008
International Critical Thought, 2014
The article focuses on the rise of SYRIZA, not only on the Greek political scene but also as a le... more The article focuses on the rise of SYRIZA, not only on the Greek political scene but also as a leading model for the radical left worldwide. More concretely, the article: (a) analyzes the developments that have brought SYRIZA to prominence on the Greek political scene and to the epicenter of political resistance to neoliberalism; (b) presents its strategy which appears to be leading to a possible, albeit long process of social transformation; (c) presents and analyzes SYRIZA's organizational initiatives that aimed at consolidating the party's strategic success; and (d) outlines the challenges lying ahead that may place its radical orientation at risk. Although the article sets off from the Greek political developments, given the tendency for uniformity of social conditions imposed by austerity politics, one can find insights in the Greek for many other settings for socialist strategy.
South European Society and Politics, 2006
... In the March 2004 elections PASOK was defeated, despite the mobilization around its new leade... more ... In the March 2004 elections PASOK was defeated, despite the mobilization around its new leaderGiorgos Papandreou, who had ... However, it is worth making reference to: Sevastakis (2004); Pantazopoulos (2003; 2004); Loulis (2004); Pappas (2004); Bilios (2005); Verney ...
Political Science Quarterly, 1989
... The rise of the Greek socialist party. Post a Comment. CONTRIBUTORS: Author: Spourdalakis, Mi... more ... The rise of the Greek socialist party. Post a Comment. CONTRIBUTORS: Author: Spourdalakis, Michalis. PUBLISHER: Routledge (London and New York). SERIES TITLE: YEAR: 1988. PUB TYPE: Book (ISBN 0415004993 ). VOLUME/EDITION: PAGES (INTRO/BODY): 331 p. ...
European Journal of Political Research, 1994
Socialist Register, 1985
The October 1981 Greek election which climaxed the Panhellenic Socialist Movement's 'shor... more The October 1981 Greek election which climaxed the Panhellenic Socialist Movement's 'short march to power' was justifiably greeted with widespread enthusiasm by the left in the West. PASOK's victory not only terminated over half a century of right-wing rule (including a brutal seven year dictatorship) but also followed the socialist victory in France in the midst of the Reagan-Thatcher-Kohl reaction, thus disproving at least momentarily the mythology of a right-wing resurgence. Nor did this pleasant Greek surprise end with one term in power. In June 1985 PASOK won another decisive victory, and the renewal of its mandate seems to show that socialist governments need not be a mere interlude to rightwing rule in this era of chronic capitalist crisis. Now that the Greek Socialists are comfortably into their second term (with even the opposition admitting that they are there to stay), it is time to examine the record of PASOK in office. This is what this short article int...
Socialist Register, 2012
Fear and hope were the two dominant sentiments generated by the unprecedented recent electoral ad... more Fear and hope were the two dominant sentiments generated by the unprecedented recent electoral advances of the radical political coalition of the Greek left, Syriza. On the one hand there was fear of the established hierarchies of capital, the profit-making forces within Greece and abroad, as well as of important geopolitical interests. It was a fear that became more explicit after the May 2012 election (when Syriza had already tripled its vote to 16.9 per cent from 4.6 per cent in 2009), when the prospect of winning the June election seemed quite realistically to be around the corner. It was then that the international institutions displayed their concerns and fears about the rise of the left to power. This could be seen in their hinting at certain concessions with regard to Syriza’s programmatic claims while at the same time waging a cheap propaganda war that intervened directly in the electoral campaign, alongside a degree of scaremongering by domestic business, intellectual and ...
In the last few years, the political alignments in the European Union (EU) countries have changed... more In the last few years, the political alignments in the European Union (EU) countries have changed drastically. In the 1990s, social democratic parties and centre-left political forces were dominant. Under the banners of “progressive governance” or “modernization” these parties ruled numerous countries and dominated the political scene on the continent. Today, it is no secret that after long years in government, these political forces, what some like to call the “governmental left” are, to say the least, in retreat. It is indeed no secret that social democracy is in deep crisis: The recent congress of the French Socialists proved that this party is going through a period of self-questioning over the issue of its leadership, but also that it had nothing new to offer or, as a conservative daily commented, it appears as if “it does not think any more.” In Germany the situation is even worse as the social democratic party, the SPD, is displaying an unprecedented obsession over the person...
South European Society and Politics, 2014
Socialist Register, Mar 18, 1986
The October 1981 Greek election which climaxed the Panhellenic Socialist Movement's 'short march ... more The October 1981 Greek election which climaxed the Panhellenic Socialist Movement's 'short march t o power' was justifiably greeted with widespread enthusiasm by the left in the West. PASOK's victory not only terminated over half a century of right-wing rule (including a brutal seven year dictatorship) but also followed the socialist victory in France in the midst of the Reagan-Thatcher-Kohl reaction, thus disproving at least momentarily the mythology of a right-wing resurgence. Nor did this pleasant Greek surprise end with one term in power. In June 1985 PASOK won another decisive victory, and the renewal of its mandate seems t o show that socialist governments need not be a mere interlude t o rightwing rule in this era of chronic capitalist crisis. Now that the Greek Socialists are comfortably into their second term (with even the opposition admitting that they are there to stay), it is time to examine the record of PASOK in office. This is what this short article intends to do. After some brief reference to the period of PAS,OK's 'short march to power', we will examine the economic, labour and social policies of Papandreou's Government; its foreign policy; the changes it brought about in the hydrocephalous Greek state apparatus; and finally, the nature of the opposition to its rule. PASOK's 'Short March to Power' The Panhellenic Socialist Movement appeared on the Greek political scene in 1974, in the immediate post-junta period. It was established by activists from the mid-sixties and especially from the anti-junta resistance who had gathered around the charismatic personality of Andreas Papandreou, in addition to a number of radical and Marxist groups and individuals which the dictatorship had brought to life. It was the expression of the social radicalism which resulted from the peculiar economic development of the country during the two decades following the war. It was a radicalism, as the mid-sixties social unrest had indicated and as the opposition to the Junta regime proved, of the political alliance between the old social strata (simple commodity producers and the peasantry), *I am grateful to Leo Panitch for his constructive criticisms and vital editorial assistance as well as to Helga Stefanson, who took great pains to make my English printable.