On Egypt and Greece

(or remember dialectics anyone?)

A debate is haunting facebook, a polemic with two sides and angry words. The blogosphere is groaning under the weight of angry proclomations.

As I'm off on holiday for a week, I was going to add my thoughts to this debate but, as Cliff used to say, I will stand on the shoulder of giants by flagging up some of the more interesting links in the debate.

On Greece

• Panos Garganos of SEK (IST affiliate in Greece) in Socialist Worker. 
• Stathis Kouvelaki' response in Socialist Worker. 
• Alex Callinicos' piece in Socialist Worker.
• Tad Tietze's article on facebook.

It's also worth checking out the debate in Fourth International (the orthodox trots).

• Here is the British sections' piece from Socialist Resistance.
• And the response from the Greek section defending a position closer to that of the IS.

On Egypt

• The RS Statement on the Presidential elections.
• The American ISO's article criticising the RS position.
• A response in the ISO's Socialist Worker.
• Matt Hale's facebook article on the Egyptian Elections.

Conclusion

I don't even have to write these myself as John Molyneux has done a good job here. John, as ever though, is generous in his polemic. I am less forgiving so, simply:

If you think joining Syriza is the way forward you are simply a reformist. Its the height of opportunism, electoralism and centrism. It also, crucially, fails the Greek working class and demonstrates that you no longer see workers self-activity as the key agent of delivering socialism.

Not critically supporting Moursi in the Egyptian election is the worst kind of abstract ultraleftism I've seen. Faced with a tangible threat to the revolution in a situation where, up til now, the class and the Party aren't hegemonic, you have to side with those forces that will increase the confidence of the class - in a decision between Shafiq and Moursi, that means the Brotherhood.