The Socialist Experience in Greece

Abstract

The Greek experience under the government of the party of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) is so complex, and its ramifications so varied, that an exhaustive discussion cannot be undertaken within the limits of an essay: it would require a book. Furthermore, at the time of writing, the experience is not yet over. In what follows, I attempt to give only an overview of the implications of, and responses to, some of the inherited social and economic conditions and other constraints that I believe to be basic for understanding the dynamics of the successes and failures of the PASOK government.1 Even though questions have been raised about PASOK's concept of socialism, or the commitment of its leadership to it, Greek social and political conditions have changed for the better during the tenure of the PASOK government. But because most of these changes have been limited in scope, it is important to ask whether it would have been possible to do better than what the record indicates. Ultimately, one would like to know whether it is possible to transform progressively, or socialize, a society in a semi-industrialized country, such as Greece, that is incorporated into and depends on the mechanics of the international capitalist system. This question goes beyond the Greek experience itself. But if on whatever basis the answer is affirmative, then one must ask whether the transformation to democratic socialism is feasible by democratic means. Given the recent experience not only in Greece, but also in some Latin American and Asian countries, I believe that positive answers to both these questions require an element of faith.2