In Greece, austerity kindles the flames of anarchy

Measures meant to shore up the country’s finances have sparked protests that go beyond the bounds of normal civil disobedience and reinvigorated the anarchist movement.

5 Seconds

00:00

Jan. 13, 2011

A flare-wielding protester stirs up the crowd at a demonstration by government contract workers in front of the supreme court in Athens.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Jan. 13, 2011

Government contract workers stage a protest in front of the supreme court in Athens. Greece has cut pensions, raised the retirement age and slashed public sector pay in an attempt to right itself financially. Even so, it is drowning in a sea of debt.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Jan. 13, 2011

Government contract workers protest in Athens. Protests have threatened a breakdown in the rule of law. Thousands of Greeks have joined an “I Won’t Pay" movement, refusing to cover highway tolls, bus fares, even fees at public hospitals.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Jan. 13, 2011

The majestic Acropolis overlooks the modern city and government buildings in Athens. Government corruption and joblessness are giving anarchy movements more traction among youth who see a grim employment future ahead.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Jan. 13, 2011

Engineering student Dino Demetriades, 19, recently joined AK, the Anti-Establishment Movement anarchy group, in Athens. Demetriades says he is scared about what is happening in Greece. But when he joined the anarchy group last year, "I addressed the fear."

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Jan. 13, 2011

Nosotros is a bar and cafe run by anarchists called AK, the Anti-Establishment Movement, in Athens. As youth unemployment has climbed to 35 percent in Greece, fringe groups such as these have gained steam.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Jan. 13, 2011

Nikolas Ganiaris, 19, a law school student at the University of Athens, has joined a leftist group in Athens. “They are taking everything away from us,” he says. “What will happen when I finish law school? Will I only find a job making copies in a shop? Will I then need to work until I’m 70 before I retire? Will I only get a few hundred euros as pension? What future have I got now?”

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Jan. 13, 2011

Vangelis Manos, 31, an anarchist with the AK anarchist group, lights a cigarette in the graffitti-laden neighborhood of Exarchia in Athens. Anarchist groups took over the neighborhood, where police rarely go. Authorities say that anger against the government has given rise to dozens of new “amateur anarchy’’ groups, whose tactics include planting of gas canisters in mailboxes and destroying bank ATMs.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Jan. 13, 2011

Anarchists with AK, the Anti-Establishment Movement, set off to hang posters touting anti-government messages along the walls of the Exarchia neighborhood in Athens. Greece, and Exarchia in particular, have a long history of anarchist movements, but the recent surge in their numbers and their violence has officials worried a return to the kind of left-wing violence that plagued parts of Europe during the 1970s and 1980s

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Jan. 13, 2011

Riot police walk the periphery of a protest by transportation workers protest in and around the Greek Parliament building in opposition to cutbacks in jobs and salaries of workers in Athens.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Jan. 13, 2011

Anarchists warm their hands in a burn barrel in a park in the Exarchia neighborhood in Athens. Nihilist youths are patrolling the local park, preventing police from entering and blocking authorities from building a parking lot on the site.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Jan. 13, 2011

Transportation workers stage a protest in and around the Greek Parliament building in Athens in opposition to cutbacks in jobs and salaries of workers. Protests and strikes have become commonplace in Greece as the government imposes harsh austerity measures to cut spending of a nearly bankrupt country.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Jan. 13, 2011

Anarchists with AK, the Anti-Establishment Movement, dance and listen to a band play at Nosotros, an anarchist bar in Athens. Over the past two years, anarchist attacks have claimed four lives in Greece, including a journalist and a minister’s top aide. Left-wing radicals also appear responsible for the deaths of three civilians after a bank was firebombed during an anti-government protest last year.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Jan. 13, 2011

Anarchists Alexandra, 18, left, and Stella, 16, visit a shrine in the Exarchia neighborhood of Athens dedicated to 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos. Grigoropoulos was shot and killed by police in December 2008 when a conflict between youths and police escalated into rock throwing and mayhem ensued. That incident sparked days of riots and became the impetus for a series of fresh attacks.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Featured Photo Galleries

Novelist Toni Morrison laughs with U.S. President Barack Obama before being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. The Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Toni Morrison; Barack Obama

Obama Honors Medal of Freedom Recipients

President Barack honored a diverse group of political and cultural icons.

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 29: Serena Williams of USA stretches to plays a forehand in her women's singles first round match between Serena Williams of USA and Virginie Razzano of France during day three of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2012 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

French Open results: Serena Williams loses, Maria Sharapova cruises

The American tennis star lost in the first round of a Grand Slam event.

Winnie Pajcic, 9, holds on to a railing as she leans back in the wind during a visit to Stockton Park in Ortega, Fla., in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Beryl on Monday May 28, 2012. Beryl came ashore early Monday near Jacksonville Beach with near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Kelly Jordan)

Tropical storm Beryl, Flugtag, Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day and more in the day in photos

Tropical storm Beryl, Flugtag, Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day and more.

Camels rest at a watering hole outside the town of Aleg May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more in animal views

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more.

ANNAPOLIS, MD- MAY 29: Graduates cheer as the Blue Angels fly over during the 100th anniversary of the United States Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremonies in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. U.S Sec. of Defense Leon Edward Panetta gave the graduation address. (Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

U.S. Naval Academy graduation

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta gave the commencement address at the ceremony.

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 26: Singer/actress Jennifer Lopez (C) performs with dancers during the Q'Viva! The Chosen Live show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 26, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Lil Jon, Eddie Van Halen, Mariah Carey and other celebrities.

Doc Watson, bluegrass and folk legend, dies at 89

The blind singer and guitarist was a Grammy winner, known for his flat-picking style of guitar playing.

Henry, a calf, sustained a head wound and required stitches after being slashed over the weekend.

Farm animals attacked in Fairfax

A calf, two goats and a chicken were slashed over the weekend at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon.

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.