The Guardian view on Greece and Golden Dawn: defeating the politics of hate
The cheers that rang out from the tens of thousands gathered outside an Athens court on Wednesday spoke of the relief and joy sweeping through Greece and beyond. The verdict that the leaders of the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn were guilty of running a criminal organisation ended a marathon case. With 68 defendants, this was the biggest trial of fascists since Nuremberg. Other members or supporters were found guilty of murder, attempted murder, assault and the illegal possession of weapons.
The court case puts a judicial seal upon a political judgment by the Greek people. Together they are welcome evidence that such groups can be challenged and defeated. In the aftermath of the worst economic crisis in modern times Golden Dawn rose to become the third-largest party, with 7% of the vote, as it exploited the anger and desperation bred by EU-mandated austerity and the failings of the Greek state. Its success inspired far-right groups internationally, including the ( banned) National Action party in the UK. Yet in last year’s general election, they failed to win a single seat in parliament.
The celebrations, however heartfelt, are partial. They are shadowed by the facts that such a party could prosper and entrench itself, especially in a country that suffered so bitterly under the Nazi occupation in the second world war; and that it took so long for authorities to act. Hundreds of vicious attacks on immigrants, trade unionists, gay couples and others took place – including murders – before the stabbing of the anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas finally triggered action. Even now, Greeks for the Homeland, a recently formed breakaway party, has garnered 1.5% of the vote in a poll.
Internationally, many far- right groups scorned Golden Dawn’s open fascism and praise for Hitler even when the party was at its height. But they too pose a threat. Across the continent, they are prospering and making alarming connections, while physical attacks are rising. The Brothers of Italy took a second regional seat, Marche, in elections last month. Portugal has recorded a record surge in racist violence. This week, a German government report said that in three years authorities had recorded more than 1,400 cases of suspected far-right extremism among soldiers, the police and intelligence services. In the US, of course, the president has praised white supremacists and urged them to “stand by”.
Defeating extremism requires tackling the real economic grievances that feed it as well as confronting its ideology and organisation. In the case of Golden Dawn, it took years of committed activism and then mass antifascist protests before the government took action. The hope is that this week’s verdicts may be the death knell for the movement in Greece and perhaps the catalyst for improvements abroad. But as the activist DeRay Mckesson has written: “Hope is not magic. Hope is work.”