Greek Riots Fueled By Distrust of Government and Economic Hardship
The ongoing riots in Greece, begun when police killed a teenager, are now being fueled by not just young people but older Greeks who recall past military dictatorship and are angry and distrustful of the government.
It seems that political memories have triggered a wave of unrest and violence.
From IPS News: " 'We are burning everything so the cops see what it means to kill a kid,' said one of the mob. 'So everyone understands what it means to destroy a life.'
"He means the killing of 15-years-old Alexis Grigoropoulos by a policeman, which drove Greek youths on a rampage last week. But now that the rioting has died down, questions arise over the underlying causes behind this explosion.
"Social conditions inevitably are behind the extent of the violence and the rage expressed against the state and anything that represents it. But it is not enough simply to blame some Anarchists, or youngsters with an appetite for destruction.
"Most of the young people who joined the demonstrations had no intention to burn and loot. Many were joined by their parents, who experienced military dictatorship between 1967 and 1973. 'I came because I felt responsible for the stalemate we left to these children to deal with, and because I am a mother and I can't believe a 15-year-old boy can be killed in this country that way,' said Tania Liberopoulos, a middle-aged accountant.
"The protests were fed by the political memory of a history of social and political struggle. Almost by instinctive conscience, many people in Greece distrust the state. The latent Greek dislike of the police, which erupted so volcanically, has its roots in the old dictatorship when the police functioned as the colonels' enforcers against the citizens.
" 'But beyond this is a crisis of trust within Greek society. When asked why he resigned, Cristos Kittis, the rector of the University of Athens, replied: 'Because I have nothing to say to my students, they do not trust me any more.'
"No doubt social conditions are difficult. Poverty rates are increasing rapidly; unemployment is 15 percent, destroying much of the vast middle class that has guaranteed social cohesion in the past. The young are hit the hardest, facing rejection in a country with no space for creativity and innovation.
"The current generation is known as the "generation of 700 euros", after the minimum wage offered to most of them, no matter what qualifications they have. But a 50 square metres flat costs about 400 euros a month to rent in Athens, bills are another 60 to 80 euros, and foodstuffs and other basic things at least 100 euros. It is hard to live on this money in Greece. This is why most people decide to stick with the family way beyond their twenties. And this is also why everyone is so pessimistic; they see no prospects."
It is obviously a volatile mixture of economic hardship, especially hitting the younger generation, distrust of the government, dislike of the police and collective social and political memories that are stoking this anger and unrest.
It seems that political memories have triggered a wave of unrest and violence.
From IPS News: " 'We are burning everything so the cops see what it means to kill a kid,' said one of the mob. 'So everyone understands what it means to destroy a life.'
"He means the killing of 15-years-old Alexis Grigoropoulos by a policeman, which drove Greek youths on a rampage last week. But now that the rioting has died down, questions arise over the underlying causes behind this explosion.
"Social conditions inevitably are behind the extent of the violence and the rage expressed against the state and anything that represents it. But it is not enough simply to blame some Anarchists, or youngsters with an appetite for destruction.
"Most of the young people who joined the demonstrations had no intention to burn and loot. Many were joined by their parents, who experienced military dictatorship between 1967 and 1973. 'I came because I felt responsible for the stalemate we left to these children to deal with, and because I am a mother and I can't believe a 15-year-old boy can be killed in this country that way,' said Tania Liberopoulos, a middle-aged accountant.
"The protests were fed by the political memory of a history of social and political struggle. Almost by instinctive conscience, many people in Greece distrust the state. The latent Greek dislike of the police, which erupted so volcanically, has its roots in the old dictatorship when the police functioned as the colonels' enforcers against the citizens.
" 'But beyond this is a crisis of trust within Greek society. When asked why he resigned, Cristos Kittis, the rector of the University of Athens, replied: 'Because I have nothing to say to my students, they do not trust me any more.'
"No doubt social conditions are difficult. Poverty rates are increasing rapidly; unemployment is 15 percent, destroying much of the vast middle class that has guaranteed social cohesion in the past. The young are hit the hardest, facing rejection in a country with no space for creativity and innovation.
"The current generation is known as the "generation of 700 euros", after the minimum wage offered to most of them, no matter what qualifications they have. But a 50 square metres flat costs about 400 euros a month to rent in Athens, bills are another 60 to 80 euros, and foodstuffs and other basic things at least 100 euros. It is hard to live on this money in Greece. This is why most people decide to stick with the family way beyond their twenties. And this is also why everyone is so pessimistic; they see no prospects."
It is obviously a volatile mixture of economic hardship, especially hitting the younger generation, distrust of the government, dislike of the police and collective social and political memories that are stoking this anger and unrest.
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