Methodology for a New Politics

Changing the ‘Operating System’ of the Left after the Greek experience of 2015

Toronto — 24 March 2016.

The Greek case leaves no doubt about Europe’s present situation: democracy has been successfully limited and a new kind of despotism is fast emerging. In this lecture Karitzis outlines key aspects of the current sociopolitical environment and presents a diagnosis regarding the time lag of the Left. The main focus is with the modifications needed to the political practice of the Left based on the “SYRIZA experience”. This entails an upgrade its operational capacities to meet the requirements of present day antagonisms. Building popular power, restructuring political representation and reviving the notion of “transformation of the state” are all major themes addressed. Lessons from the Greek case may be broadly valuable, facilitating the Left in other countries to initiate a process of systematic preparation and adaptation.

Moderated by Bryan Evans. Presentation by:

• Andreas Karitzis has a MSc in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Philosophy. He is the author of Logic and Method of a Left Government (in Greek) and a founding member of the “Hub” for social economy, empowerment and innovation. He was a member of the Political Secretariat of SYRIZA and of its Programme Committee until April of 2014. He was also a member of the SYRIZA’s Central Committee until August of 2015. See Bullet No. 1236.

The Phyllis Clarke Memorial Lecture is held annually to honour the memory of Phyllis Clarke, a member of the Ryerson University faculty from 1977 until her death in 1988.