Keeping the Outrage in Perspective

The street protests in Greece are raising a big debate about their purpose, their cohesion and their effectiveness. After the initial feeling of elation that comes with a spontaneous expression of discontent with the state of the country and the ineffectiveness of the political system much ado is being made as to whether this largely heterogeneous mass of citizens with very disparate perspectives can actually express a cohesive platform of positions and possibly even evolve into some sort of political movement.

Herein the danger. The street protests are meant to mobilise the political elite into taking action but as long as the governing and the main opposition parties are ineffective (or perceived to be ineffective) in leading, the street protests will quickly disintegrate into an unruly mob with an anti West, anti EU, anti IMF, anti anything that is not Greek populist movement. The presence of many Greek flags (a sign that the lines between patriotism and nationalism are becoming blurred) and the ease with which many protesters heap insults on who they deem responsible for their condition is a volatile mix. The populist rallying cry by Mikis Theodorakis on 31 May among others against the sell out of the country against a background of anti creditor and anti Semitic chants is a case in point. Another example of a worsening danger was the blocking of all exits from Parliament thereby trapping MPs and staff inside.

Indignation and outrage is slowly turning into restlessness, hate, and populist rhetoric and this does not augur well for what is to come. Where I in Greece I would probably still be in the main square of Athens in indignation of where my country is heading but I would also be increasingly worried about how this outrage is channelled.