The right to hope – Article by Eleni Mavrou, AKEL Political Bureau member

 

Sunday 3 April 2022, “Haravgi” newspaper

In recent years we have been forced to reconsider much that we took for granted.

A pandemic – unprecedented for our era – a new economic crisis, a new economic crisis, the war in Ukraine on a continent that has paid a bloody price for centuries of conflict and antagonisms, culminating in the carnage of World War II.

How many times have we not wondered what Europe could look like? A continent where differences of language, religion, traditions could be overcome by communication and dialogue. A continent that would accommodate different ideas, habits, aspirations and that could build on consensus and solidarity. A continent that would use its great technological achievements to ensure better education, better health care, a cleaner environment and respect for nature for all.

If this seemed difficult up until recently, it now seems almost impossible after the new realities that have been created by the “new war in Europe”.

Unfortunately, the logic of dialogue and appeasement is giving way to the logic of force and deterrence. However, a return to a Cold War cannot be the future of Europe. A scenario in which international treaties and international law have no value is a nightmare scenario. A war, whatever the reasons or excuses used to justify it, comes at a high cost: human lives are lost, thousands or even millions become refugees, whole regions or even countries are reduced to rubble.

The only winner, for the moment, seems to be the US. The redefinition of the EU-Russia relationship on a political and economic level (the imposition of sanctions, the cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the attempt to wean Europe in general off Russian gas) is already leading to European states buying more expensive natural gas and oil, largely from the US. Furthermore, NATO’s role is being upgraded, while military arms spending is skyrocketing. Even though, deep down, many people understand, even if they begin from different starting points, that Europe’s survival depends on challenging US hegemony and neoliberal policies.

The consequences of the war in Ukraine and what subsequently followed are now being felt throughout Europe, which has taken on a decisive role in serving the US plans. The peoples are already paying a heavy price. Increased electricity or gas bills, increased prices across the board and shortages of essential goods. The frustration of expectations is shaking the foundations of democracy, thus adding yet another problem.

Fear of today and anxiety about tomorrow are the prevailing emotions today. Anxiety about whether and how it will ever be possible to achieve real peace, to breathe a sigh of relief for people driven to impoverishment by successive crises, to give young people a perspective.

However, we cannot permit fear to prevail.

Only the organisation and waging of collective struggles for the prevalence of the great universal values of humanity, solidarity and fraternity can shed light on the darkness of war and misery.