LAUSR

Following the collapse of the communist bloc, capitalist neoliberalism expanded throughout the world, developing new imperialist economic zones. State socialism, as implemented by the Soviets, was no longer a model for most Marxist movements. In both neoliberalist and state socialist societies, a “single politics” (or “no politics”) prevailed. There was a need to encourage the left movements and to re-introduce Marx’s vision and the “communist” hypothesis. FrenchMarxist philosopher Alain Badiou put his hopes in the Alliance for a Radical Left (Syriza) of Greece as a new type of movement that would challenge the neoliberal Eurocrats. However, Badiou’s optimism was soon followed by “melancholy” as the Syriza government “capitulated” to the Eurocrats. Aside from that, the Syriza movement, like many of its contemporaries and predecessors. was based more on “negation” than “affirmation.” Badiou admits his misjudgment and goes on to stipulate new tactics and criteria for left-oriented social movements and for a “way out” of “single-politics” situations. Greece and the Re-invention of Politics brings together Badiou’s interventions in debates, articles in French newspapers, and talks in Athens covering a six-year period (2010–16) – essentially most of the Greek crisis period and three different administrations: that of George A. Papandreou (2010–12); the coalition government of Antonis Samaras (New Democracy – ND), Evangelos Venizelos (Panhellenic Socialist Movement – PASOK), and Fotis Kouvelis (Democratic Left – DIMAR) (2012-14); and the coalition government of Alexis Tsipras