A postscript on sectarianism and the Greek referendum

Supporters of a NO vote (OXI in Greek) in the referendum at the huge rally in Syntagma Square last Saturday

by Frank Brenner

On June 27, the World Socialist Web Site denounced the Greek referendum as “a reactionary fraud, designed to lend a veneer of democratic legitimacy to the looting of Greece by the banks.” (See "Greek prime minister calls for referendum on EU austerity demands" https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/06/27/gree-j27.html). 

Two days later came the following announcement: “The World Socialist Web Site calls on workers in Greece to vote 'no' to accepting the EU’s demands for yet more austerity.” (See "Greek crisis comes to a head" https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/06/29/pers-j29.html).

Quite a reversal of policy. After all, if we are to believe the WSWS of June 27, the WSWS of June 29 was calling on Greek workers to participate in “a reactionary fraud”, and by making such a call the WSWS was doing its little bit “to lend a veneer of democratic legitimacy to the looting of Greece by the banks.”

You would think this head-spinning turn would call for some explanation, but there isn't any. True, the WSWS adds: “But such a no vote must be understood for all that it implies,” and then we get a few paragraphs about the need for “a revolutionary struggle against the capitalist system.” But this is, as always with the WSWS, boilerplate rhetoric thrown in at the end of every article.

HOW does a no vote imply a revolutionary struggle against capitalism? This is the crucial issue, but one totally ignored by the WSWS. Indeed, without an explanation for its reversal of policy, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND how participation in “a reactionary fraud” can have ANY revolutionary implication.

A group that operates in this way – that can say one thing and 48 hours later say the opposite – is a group corroded by cynicism. The leadership operates with impunity because it has followers who accept its every pronouncement uncritically. At party conferences every resolution is always passed unanimously. This is how a cult operates, and the nice thing about running a cult is never having to say you're sorry. 

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