The European Union and the radical Left

Alexis Tsipras and Pablo Iglesias. Demotix/Czuko Williams. Some rights reserved.Recent political developments in Greece and Spain bring to the fore, more forcibly than ever, the crucial question: what should the attitude of the prevailing system of the European Union be towards the rise of the radical Left?

The answers attempted so far are disappointing. They highlight an emerging mixture of surprise, bewilderment and aversion, accompanied by displays of intense paternalism and proprietary notions. This leads to a demeaning and dismissive attitude towards any criticism articulated vis-à-vis the European construction.

It is true that the European Union is currently facing two forceful tendencies of political contestation. These tendencies, however, have entirely different origins and divergent targets.