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anarchism in Greece
Contents
Introduction[edit]
The evolution of anarchism in Greece, shows a series of historical paradoxes which have to do with in one hand in the insufficient historical coverage and in the other hand the distortion of historical facts due to ideological bias. We also have a difficulty tracing the connection and paths of the various teams and leagues.
1860-1875[edit]
It is from 1860 that we meet in the "Greek" territories the first libertarian texts and organized anarchist action mainly at Athens. Much was written and publicized from anarchists and libertarians-radicals of that time, deeply influenced by the activities of the corresponding European leagues.
Emanouil Dadaoglou, a merchant from Smyrni, had propably met with anarchist ideas from Italian political refugees, first arriving in Patras in 1849 due to the War of the Two Sicilies. With the Italian anarchist Cipriani, founder of "Democratic Club", they organized a team and took part of the revolution against King Otho in 1862. We know that they had a "roadblock" in the area of Kapnikarea. From 1864 to 1867 he went to Italy in the area of Napoli and he became part of the International Working Men's Association (IWA) (he followed the ideas of Mikhail Bakunin) . At that time he met Maria Pantazi, who professes prostitution, who became his lifelong companion. In the late sixties he returns to Greece and he dies in 1870. After his death Maria Pantazi left Greece. She died along with thousands of others after the Paris Commune, at the hands of royal guards. The first Greek anarchist publication, can be found on 3 September 1861 in the daily newspaper "Φώς" (Light) issue 334. It is the main article of the paper, titled "Anarchy" part A and the writer remains anonymous. All the papers were confiscated few hours after their release and a police raid was staged, "forcing" the owner of the paper to condemn the article, so part B was never published.
Movements are also done in the Eptanisa Islands, with the names of Mikelis Iamvlixos and N. Konemenos saved to us. Iamvlixos studied in Vern, Switzerland were he met M. Bakunin and after he returned to Kefalonia where he was born. He published some articles. Konemenos, living in Corfu, was one of the first to use the term "communism" and one of the first to speak for women's rights. In 1893 he published a book in Italian called (Ladri ed omicidi} (Thieves and murderers).
1875- 1907[edit]
The character of the tradition spored during the last decade will flower giving "revolutionary" organizations in different areas of the "Grecian" space like Athens, Syros, Messini, Aigio, Filiatra, Kefalonia and Patra. In G. Kordatos' Great Greek History, he writes: "the anarchosocialist ideas found ground to spread in Patras in my opinion, due to the presence of 5,000 proletarians and bourgeois, the Eptanisians with the radicals and the through Europe communication of the City" .
The anarchists from Patra in early 1876 formed a collective called "Democrative Association", which because of the city's favorable position and its port acquired close and constant relations not only with fellow anarchists from close Italy but with other European organizations. They tried to coordinate all the groups of the "Grecian" space and to form the first Greek department of the International Workers League. A league called "Democratic League of the People" was formed and in an article of the Italian paper Il Martello published in Bologna, Italy we can read along with the announcement of the league's existence: "...later on we will send you the general policies of the Democratic League of the People and the specific policies of the Company of Patra... Soon enough we will publish our socialist newspaper as an instrument of IWA ..." . The following repression from the Greek state, is in accord with a European state agreement, a fact that can be proved from several diplomatic papers. In the newspaper Bulletin of the Jura federation on 10 June 1877: Greece in its turn joins the agreement of civilized nations, those who are sleepless with energetic meters of pressure in keeping the "social order" . To prove that, we received the following letter : "Prisons of Patra, 15/27 May 1877 in the making of the leaflet: Dionisis Ampelopoulos, Konstantinos Mpompotis, Alexandros Evmorfopoulos, Konstantinos Grimanis. We are in jail because of the publication of the first issue of our paper Greek Democracy, of which you will receive copies. Greetings and solidarity. Konstantinos Grimanis ." . We also meet: in Patras the anarchist newspaper Epi ta proso and Marinos Antypas who acted in all "Grecian" space .
The Boatmen of ThessalonÃki[edit]
The "boatmen" of ThessalonÃki were anarchists, of Bulgaric origin. Their recorded actions consist solely in their bombings: on 28 April they put bombs in the French steam boat Guadalquivir and the next day 29 April 1903 they blow up the Imperial Ottoman Bank, the "express" train from Istanbul and the main pipe lines of gas and water, the bar Alambra, the Bank of Mitilini, the Post Office, the Grand Hotel, the Theater Eden, the Top Hane military camp and the German Club. The official death toll was 115 people. It is supposed that the members of this group where apprehended and subsequently caught and hanged.
1960s to 1995[edit]
The Greek anarchist movement really started during the junta (1967-1974). The first Greek anarchists after war (1973) were among the main actors in student movement against junta.One can find many references in S. Katsaros's book "I the provocateur,the terrorist": "The slogans of the anarchists like "Destroy the State" were not adopted by no-one . They sounded a bit strange as the anarchist movement had no tradition in Greece" (p.219) or "The only people who took initiative where "leftists" or anarchists ,who had only to offer in tactics was demonstrations to the region that the people would clash with the police." (p. 238) and "The speakers stopped but from the radio station the spokesmen started chanting the national anthem(...). A group of anarchists started singing the Internationale and heading towards the Polytechnic School but an Avra (armored police vehicle) stopped this quickly.... " (p.243)
The Greek movement really started here and it carried both the ads and pros of this. Greek anarchists in the light of May of '68 and the Italian autonomist movement opposed anarchosyndicalism in favor of direct class war. Their influences were the classics (Bakunin, Kropotkin) but also Situationist International and autonomist Marxism.
The Greek anarchist and autonomist movement got really strong in late '70s, when people from ultra-left parties (who were strong in mid-'70s) left their political parties or groups and found themselves in the side of autonomists and anarchists.
The first wave of Greek anarchists were disappointed, and the great majority of them left the movement slowly, when the first socialist government was established in 1980 and with the alliance from the communist party almost ended "the social war" of the '70s. A new wave of young anarchists even more aggressive and violence-oriented than the first generation emerged in the mid-80s.
In the years 1985-1986 almost daily demos and clashes took place. Anarchists Mixalis Kaltezas (1970-1985) and Xristos Tsoutsouvis (?-1985) were killed during this period and their killings caused huge riots in Athens and ThessalonÃki. The murder of a policeman in ThessalonÃki and the occupation of Chemistry University in Athens made the oppression against anarchists almost unbearable, but an anarchist movement existed, managed to make demonstrations with thousands of participants in Athens. The attack by an anarchist demonstration on the hotel "Caravel" hosting a far-right conference (among them was Jean-Marie Le Pen) was also a peak in anarchist movement of '80s.
The 80s generation faded slowly, and a new wave of anarchists came in the heat of '91 high school student uprising. The '91 student movement was the most radical movement ever to be shown in Greece, carrying about 1500 wild strike school occupations and demonstrations of hundred thousands. The murder of the ultra-left teacher Nikos Temponeras by members of ruling right-wing New Democracy party, caused an almost general insurgency in all main Greek towns, with a 25,000 strong demonstration in Patra where Temponeras was killed, which was followed by the burning of the police station and the town hall. The same day in Athens four people were killed by a fire which ocured during a massive demonstration. The civil unrest stopped only when the Minister of Education resigned.
The anarchist movement of '90s faced the complete disaster in the anarchist occupation of Polytechnic University in 1995. About 3.000 people occupied Polytechnic, when, the police got in and arrested finally 501 anarchists (all occupiers that were left in Polytechnic). The Polytechnic was almost completely destroyed during the anarchist occupation. The role of the media was a catalyst, ordering the police to arrest and hit "these hoolligans, the known-unknown thugs"(the common name of anarchists used by the media). But instead of strengthening the anarchist movement, as oppression did before, it really made it apart.
17th November 74-96[edit]
17th of November is a annual school and univercities holiday in Greece celebrating the Athens Polytechnic Uprising . Almost every year massive demonstrations take place in the large urban centers and almost every years riots occur. Anarchists have been fiercely critiqued for these riots .
-1974-
The first elections after the military Junta are programmed for the 17/11/1974 and the celebrations are to be postponed to 24/11 . Many disagree with that (including leftists and the communist party) . In the end two demonstrations happen on the 15th and the other as programmed in the 24th. In the 15th a text is shared hand to hand to the people who arrive for the demonstration, which among other says :"Comrades paid slaves, the completion of a year since the riot of November is sealed by the zenith of anti-revolution, elections... Comrades, the riot of November made the owners and the aspiring owners of authority to shake. COMRADES, all together the lackeys of state and capital ask us to be productive robots, pathetic receptors of our lives.." , and it was signed by the "anarchist team Extremists " . The committee of demonstration said that their positions are different from the text and asked the people who where present to isolate the anarchists.
-1976-
This year is the first an organized anarchist bloc takes parts in the demonstrations.-1978- The assembly for the demonstration is in the Polytechnics. There police has a very strong presence and before the demonstration starts minor conflicts occur. EFEE (national student union (of) Greece) declares that due to the large police force the demonstration is canceled . Even that declaration the demonstration starts and clashes with the police occur.
-1980- The demonstration is not allowed to take place this year but a demonstration happens in the 16th. The situation is electrified and the main motto is that "hell will break loose" ( tha ginei ths poutanas ) . Banks , shops and public buildings are attacked and some destroyed and roadblocks are made. The police attacks back. The conclusion is several injured and two dead I. Koumis and S. Kanelopoulou , The next day another demonstration which had approximately 2000 people occurs.
-1982-
Anarchists burn Greek flags and the wreaths laid in the memorial of the riot by politicians.Some clashes occur.-1983- In the 16th the offices of Rizospastis are destroyed , the main motto was :" The Party kills Polish workers" .
After the demonstration on the 17th the offices of the Technical Chamber are attacked.-1984-
In the 17th of this year a concert against state repression is programmed but is prohibited at last moment by the polytechnics Rector .Massive riots start outside the Polytechnics. A text that was published after the event reads:"This gave food to the rags and those who think that the university is their kingdom. In us depends if they will taste this food for a life and then burp happily or if they will vomit it and then crawl in their dirty anti-orgasmic party offices." .-1985- In this year many clashes with the police can be witnessed from its beginning, something which could explain the following events: Few anarchists take part in this year's demo but when it ends they break the offices of South Africa Airlines. The clashes continue in Exarheia Square and M. Kaltezas is killed . The polytechnics school is squatted and the clashes continue until the police breaks in . The same day the school is re-squatted and strournari street is blocked. Demonstrations and further clashes occur with the police but in the night everything stops. Leftits criticize the clashes and say that if the anarchists didn't make the riots more people would demonstrate for the death of M. Kaltezas.
-1986-
Probably the most massive anarchist demonstration for the 17th of november occurs . Some estimate that even 5000 take part.-1987-
Clashes start when officials try to place wreaths in the memorial of the riot and escalate to a riot that held for three days. Clashes occur and outside the U.S. embassy.
-1988- The anarchist bloc this year is probably the smallest for a decade and after an attack by the police in the middle of the demonstration
it disbands after some small clashes..jpg)
-1990- Anarchist's gather at the hind of the demonstration and attack banks and public buildings. Minor clashes with the police occur.
-1992- In the midday of the 16th the ministry of labor is attacked with Molotov coctails and in the evening a demonstration for solidarity to the inprisoned N. Maziotis , N. Skiftoulis , K. Mazokopos and B. Tsouris who was in hunger strike. It ends in the polytechnics where clashes with the police start. In the 17th the office of New Democracy and two bus booking offices are burned. 26 people where arrested.
-1993- In 1993, during 15,16 and 17 of November anarchist handed leaflets , made banners for the occasion and wrote with spray on the walls around Polytechnics school. On the 16th about 30 people attack with Molotov bombs a police bus on Kanigos Square and two mercedes cars parked outside the General Accountant Building. In the 17th at the same time officials have their speeches for the holiday , a group attacks the riot police stationed outside the polytechnics with molotovs, rocks and flares. Later that evening a van of the tv station Skai is destroyed.
-2002 and AK- The Antiauthoritarian Movement created in 2002 with central objective to participate in the mobilisations adversely in the Summit of European Union during June 2003 in the city of Thessalonica. Supported by the close collaboration of teams and individuals from cities of all Greece, the Antiauthoritarian Movement developed the antiauthoritarian reason concerning all the questions of the Session, publicised its opinions, participated in most events of protest for the informal ministerial sessions and for the war in Iraq as well, prepare the presence in Thessalonica, organised one week of events in the Theological Faculty as well as the accommodation of thousands of demonstrators in the same place and finally it participated actively so much in the course for the red zone in Marmaras area, and the demonstration of the next day in the streets of Thessalonica. Antiauthoritarian Movement is one the four major antiglobalisation organisations in Greece
After two years of intensive preparations against the E.U. summit all those who participate in the Antiauthoritarian Movement decide to continue the operation of the group forming a synthetic network of groups in the major cities of Greece with the following characteristics:
An organizational structure that places as condition of attendance minimum values and scopes that retain the character of the group as a movement and not transform it either as a political party or teams.
These minimum core values are: - The antiauthoritarian character of its scope and frame. - The direct democracy in the way of decision-making. - The denial of occupation of any form of power.
Therefore the antiauthoritarian movement is not a federation but rather an open form organization that can accept a lot of organizational forms without to be committed by no one, as long as are accepted the 3 minimum core values. The assemblies of the Antiauthoritarian movement are open to the public and announced.
Each city, assembly or individual keep their autonomy as long as itÂ’s not competing against the rest. The Antiauthoritarian movement aimÂ’s to be an organizational frame for convergence even if in individual questions exists different approach of interpretation of social problems. The central agreement will result from the general meeting of all the participants of every assembly that will take place twice or more per year according to the needs and the organization of an Antiauthoritarian festival at national level.
The publication of the Antiauthoritarian Movement is a monthly newspaper with Pan-Hellenic scope. The name is BABYLONIA. The publication is managed and coordinated by a separated assembly at national level following the 3 core values of the Antiauthoritarian Movement organizational frame. The newspaper objective is the creation of a continuous dialogue with the society from the viewpoint of counter information. It should announce and spread the voices of resistance and solidarity without to be filtered by some ideological sieve. Babylonia like Antiauthoritarian Movement is not an institution of dead truth, but a process in order to arm again the dialogue.
Notable Greek anarchists[edit]
Greek Anarchist organisations[edit]
- Anti-State Justice
- Federation of Anarchists of Western Greece
- AK ( Anti-authoritarian movement)
- Anarchist Archive
- Terra Icognita
- Lelas Karagiani
Further reading - Bibliography[edit]
- Anarchist Gallery (1986). A brief history of anarchism in Greece. (Oakland: Barricade Books).
- Early Days of Greek Anarchism: The Democratic Club of Patras & Social Radicalism in Greece Edited and translated by Paul Pomonis. ISBN 1-873605-68-4
- Mayri Lista (1999). Stergios Katsaros-I the provocateur, the terrorist. The charm of violence ISBN 960-8044-02-2
- Megas G. The Boatmen of Thesalloniki. The Bulgarian anarchist goup and the bomb attacks of 1903, Troxalia, 1994 ISBN 960-7022-47-5
- Kordatos G., Great History of Greece, Athens,20th Century Publishing
- James Sotros The Greek Speaking Anarchist and Revolutionary Movement (1830-1940) Writings for a History Publication: No God-No Masters, December 2004
- Solidarity - monthly anarchist newspaper - issues n.1 (15/11/1983)
- Against-monthly anarchist newsletter issues n. 1,2,6 (1988-1990)
- The Arena - monthly anarchist newspaper issue n. 1 (?/11/1984)
- Test -anti-authoritarian newspaper issue n. 8 (14/11/1986)
- Riot - anarchist newspaper - issues n. 3,9,13,14,18,21,24,28
- Anarchist bulletin - Special edition November 2005
External links[edit]
In Greek:
- Athens Independent Media Center
- Lelas Karagiani Squat
- Anarchist Archive (Anarhiki Arxeiothiki)
- Anarchist Bulletin (Anarxiko Deltio)
- [[1]] AK
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