Social Movements and Solidarity Structures in Crisis-Ridden Greece

Abstract

Social Movements and Solidarity Structures in Crisis-Ridden Greece explores the rich grassroots experience of social movements in Greece between 2008 and 2016. The harsh conditions of austerity triggered the rise of vibrant mobilizations that went hand-in-hand with the emergence of numerous solidarity structures, providing unofficial welfare services to the suffering population. Based on qualitative field research conducted in more than 50 social movement organizations in Greece’s two major cities, the book offers an in-depth analysis of the contentious mechanisms that led to the development of such solidarity initiatives. By analyzing the organizational structure, resources and identity of markets without middlemen, social and collective kitchens, organizations distributing food parcels, social clinics and self-managed cooperatives, this study explains the enlargement of boundaries of collective action in times of crisis.

From Protesting Against Troika Bailouts to Pro‐EU Governing in Greece and Portugal: Europeanisation and Institutionalisation Processes

“…However, it was a major force in a significant realignment of the Greek political system, such as the creation of nine new political parties and SYRIZA's rise as the second strongest party in 2012 and governing one in 2015 (Altiparmakis, 2019;Kanellopoulos et al, 2017;Kanellopoulos and Kousis, 2018;Oikonomakis, 2017;Papanikolopoulos and Rongas, 2019). With the rising importance of SYRIZA, a social movement party of the European Left in the contentious but also in the parliamentary arena, an increase is noted in its institutional, logistics and media support to activists in various fields, especially since 2010 (e.g., against gold mining, Vio.Me, 'the potato movement', social clinics and the closure of ERT [Elliniki Radiofonia Tileorasi (Hellenic Radio and Television)]), through questions raised in parliament by its MPs, its active participation in protests and solidarity structures and its provision of media channels (Malamidis, 2020;Oikonomakis, 2017).…”

“…With the rising importance of SYRIZA, a social movement party of the European Left in the contentious but also in the parliamentary arena, an increase is noted in its institutional, logistics and media support to activists in various fields, especially since 2010 (e.g., against gold mining, Vio.Me, ‘the potato movement’, social clinics and the closure of ERT [Elliniki Radiofonia Tileorasi (Hellenic Radio and Television)]), through questions raised in parliament by its MPs, its active participation in protests and solidarity structures and its provision of media channels (Malamidis, 2020; Oikonomakis, 2017).…”

Radical democracy, the commons and everyday struggles during the Greek crisis

“…After the evacuation of the squares, the re-territorialisation of struggles in local neighbourhoods engendered an expanding network of bottom-up alternatives -reaching more than 400 groups in 2016 -in different areas of social and economic life (Kousis et al, 2018;Malamidis, 2020). Such alternatives included collective initiatives for basic services' provision (social solidarity clinics and pharmacies, citizens self-help groups); work-related cooperative structures (coffee shops, groceries and other labour cooperatives); educational and cultural networks (self-managed theatres, tutoring and support for students); projects for the direct support of the most vulnerable social strata (collective kitchens, social foodbanks); and local initiatives prefiguring alternative forms of socioeconomic organisation (markets without middlemen, neighbourhood assemblies, time banks) (Solidarity for All, 2014).…”