Greece needs political cooperation on foreign policy and domestic issues
I am, like most Greeks, a political animal and I like arguing about political ideologies and their practical applications. That said, I also realize that at times political ideology does not provide all the answers. In such cases practical and well-meaning people should come together, put their political beliefs aside, and find the best solution to a pressing problem.
As an example, many of us have lamented the fact that Greece does not have a nonpartisan foreign policy. The challenges from Turkey are constant, will not end anytime soon, and will not change when a different political party wins that country’s elections. It is time for Greece to have a coherent foreign/defense policy, one dictated by our needs and challenges and not by the ideology of the party in power. Of course, one could argue that ideology is important in international relations and thus it is too much to expect a center-right Greek government to follow the same policy as a left-wing one. That might be indeed the case and my dream of a nonpartisan Greek foreign policy will remain a dream. But there is another danger that Greece faces: It is constant, multifaceted, and claims great loss of property and life. Maybe facing that danger can be a nonpartisan issue.
Every year Greece, like other countries, finds itself face to face with a number of natural disasters. It might be a fire in the summer with thousands of acres burned, houses destroyed, and at times even loss of life. Unusually heavy snowfall in the winter can cause destruction of property and lives, disruption of utilities, and long-term losses for agriculture. At times, heavy rain might cause great destruction in infrastructure, loss of life and damage to urban and rural properties. Natural phenomena cannot be prevented, but good planning, law enforcement, and a superb emergency apparatus can help mitigate such losses.
It is time for Greece to have a coherent foreign/defense policy, one dictated by our needs and challenges and not by the ideology of the party in power
Is there another issue facing Greece today where political cooperation can bring better results? The country needs a number of laws, new or adjustment of old ones, which will regulate building in town and country, and prescribe fines and jail time as needed for violations. Greece also needs, more than new laws, enforcement of the ones already in the books. Finally, and above all else, Greece needs emergency services that work – enough firefighters and emergency personnel, with plenty of equipment, and of the right kind, who will be able to act in a coordinated way to achieve best results.
I am well aware that there are fundamental philosophical differences between left and right, but does it matter to the people of Crete who helps them avoid another flood and by what means? Are the people of North Evia more interested in the ideology behind the anti-fire measures or are they more interested in their effectiveness? I am sure that there are serious and capable individuals on both political sides who can contribute to a truly bipartisan effort. They can help our country deal with a constant hemorrhage which has not been dealt with effectively by one or another political party alone. Maybe now it’s the time to seek solutions that work rather than solutions which adhere to a particular ideological school of thought. Maybe now it’s the time for the left to admit that all solutions to a problem are not to be found within the strict confines of state intervention. Maybe now it’s the time for the right to acknowledge that the free market cannot provide all the answers. As Deng Xiaoping said, “White cat or black cat, as long as it catches mice, it’s a good cat.”
John A. Mazis is a history professor at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
