In 1927, the Nazi political philosopher Carl Schmitt published The Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy, a powerful critique of the Weimar Republic’s constitution that provided the intellectual basis of the Nazi Party’s rise to power.
As the current Euro crisis rumbles on, fascism has raised its ugly head once again in the form of the Greek neo-Nazi party the Golden Dawn and a serious discussion has begun on whether democracy remains an appropriate form of government to guide Greece through this economic meltdown. After the latest set of elections, they have not been able to form an effective government and sadly, the spirit of Carl Schmitt’s message has found meaning among frustrated and humiliated Greeks.
Amid the impending financial Armageddon, some seem to have forgotten the brutal consequences of fascism in Spain and central Europe. Indeed, the crisis of values only looks set to worsen but there is an important contrast to be made with Spain, a former fascist nation that is arguably in a much worse financial position than Greece.
With a higher percentage of unemployment and much larger public debts, Spain could soon be knocking on the IMF’s door. Yet, there is little sign of a revival in Spanish fascism. Why?
Running battles with riot police, burnt out buildings and crippling strikes have characterised the Greek reaction against austerity whereas in Spain the considered 15-M movement has formed the basis of the public’s response. Young Greeks and Spaniards have similarly bleak futures ahead of them but one nation has resorted to anarchy whilst the other leads the call for a global revolution in capitalism, democracy and civil society.
Moreover, the 15-M group has been cited by the Occupy movement as their main inspiration due to the open and practical discourse that they encourage among all citizens about the future of global governance. The chaotic management of Greece’s economic problems is a perfect example of the governmental misconduct that the 15-M feel undermines modern democracy and drives citizens to more extreme forms of political expression.
Maybe it is the memory of General Franco’s authoritarian regime that is keeping Spain from a Grecian scale social meltdown but we should not ignore these visible early warning signs. Nazi Germany was a product of international humiliation and a global economic crisis; we do not want to make the same mistakes.
Whilst it is widely accepted that many Greeks became reckless and greedy after the Euro induced influx of readily available credit, the international community should not punish every citizen for the actions of a few.
A solution that isolates Greece must be avoided at all costs but the current brutal austerity measures look to be doing exactly that. It is time for a rethink if we wish to stop the current trajectory that Greece is on.
After the G8 have cited the importance of employment based growth to the solution to the current difficulties this week, we must find the humanity to grant troubled nations the right to pursue similar policies for the good of Europe and make sure that revitalized fascist parties stay on the edge of the mainstream. Such a problem is one that will likely be overlooked in the current and future talks concerning the fate of the Euro. Yet, it is an issue that deserves serious consideration.
Like it or not, we are all in the mess together and pursuing national interests will exacerbate an already volatile situation. It is for the international community and Europe to bring Greece back from this dangerous precipice.