Where in Europe has the left has made a popular breakthrough, has a chance of making a real difference, even if in highly adverse circumstances, and has a policy that combines openness, democracy and sustainability? The answer is in Greece, but is the British left capable of taking any notice?

After twelve years in power there has been a sorry reversion to post-45 parochialism, except that an obsession with America has replaced the Empire as if singing the international meant dancing to the tune of the White House.

Of course, one reason for this is that social democracy is in ruins across much of the continent of its birth. But George Papandreou’s PASOK party, having just last month gaining a surprising absolute majority, is different.

It is working to adopt a form of progressive government that combines green development, democratic openness and international reconciliation. How does New Labour measure up when seen in this modest comparative light? It is a painful question.

In London, Labour’s Prime Minister is currently positioning himself as yet another a “war leader”. In Athens, even though Turks are in occupation of Northern Cyprus, Papandreou does the opposite declaring, “We must free Cyprus of the walls which have no place in the European Union… If we are successful, this will be a sign for the whole world, a sign for peace.”

Here, our Minister for the Environment adopts draconian powers that destroy the final element of local democracy in this country, over planning, and he announces a massive programme of nuclear power. In Greece, sustainable development is seen as a democratic priority.

In Westminster, tut-tutting about corruption protects the prevailing cronyism without any reform of the Lords or any change to a sordid and undemocratic electoral system. PASOK, by contrast, has launched a programme to democratise and open up politics having held an open election of Papandreou himself as party leader in 2007.

Three fronts, then, summarise George Papandreou’s strategy:

• ‘Green development’ for sustainable growth
• Open and accountable politics that build in deliberation and other direct forms of participation
• A foreign policy that involves civil society, rather than its traditional exclusion.

The emergence of a concept of ‘green development’ is seen as an alternative both to neo-liberalism and the old statist left and may offer a way of overcoming the current economic crisis. Crucially it is local and decentralised even though it requires both state intervention and markets.

For if there is one thing that unites the entire approach of PASOK under Papandreou’s leadership it is that his policies are built on the involvement of civil society, seeking to engage public trust through participation. The contrast with the narrow, spin-driven control freakery of the creators of the database state in Britain could hardly be greater.

I don’t know if PASOK and Papandreou will succeed. But I do know how serious, determined and prepared they are, and how they are open to a wide range of progressive views. For I have been privileged to participate in the Symi seminars that have helped lay the ground over the last decade for the policies now been attempted. Mary Kaldor and I set out briefly how this happened in an article in openDemocracy.

If you are thinking about what Labour needs to do as it prepares for opposition, read it if you dare. No debate about the way forward for the Britain can afford to ignore the Greek experiment, or pretend that a similar, very committed, open-minded effort is not going to be needed here, to turn the Labour from being the party of war and surveillance to the party of peace and democracy – if it can now be done at all.

About the author
Anthony Barnett is a regular contributor, and editor of the blog Our Kingdom. Also a founder member of OpenDemocracy and Charter 88. He co-organised the Convention on Modern Liberty.
· Other posts by Anthony Barnett
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