Tweeters at the event and watching at home got involved in the debate
In the wake of the Syriza victory in Greece – the first anti-austerity party to be elected in the EU – Common Weal organised a #CommonDebate chaired by Peter McColl, Director of the Common Weal Policy Unit and Rector of the University of Edinburgh, to discuss what this means for the future of politics in Europe and Scotland.
The panel consisted of Cat Boyd, Trade Unionist and co-founder of the Radical Independence Campaign; Dr Myrto Tsakatika of Syriza Scotland and senior lecturer in politics at the University of Glasgow; Professor Michael Keating, author and political science professor at the University of Aberdeen, specialising in European politics; and Gordon Maloney, President of NUS Scotland.
And as the lecture theatre in Edinburgh packed out amid the snowstorm raging outside, those at the event and thos watching from home on the Independence Live stream took to Twitter.
The importance of connecting to international movements was acknowledged.
Thanks for excellent #commondebate tonight in Edinburgh about Syriza & lessons for Scotland. Good to know were part of something much bigger
— Scotland Alliance (@yesallianceWM15) January 28, 2015
Especially on the scale of changing austerity politics in favour of a radical, socialist alternative.
We can’t do is socialism in one country. Invasions, embargoes. EU is the smallest scale at which radical change is possible #CommonDebate
— Alistair Davidson (@moh_kohn) January 28, 2015
Dr Tsakatika pointed out the different ways Syriza diverged from the previous government.
Dr Tsakatika: Syriza are 1st Greek government not to be sworn in by the church. This is a symbolic move toward a secular state #CommonDebate
— CommonSpace (@TheCommonSpace) January 28, 2015
Dr Tsakatika: The greatest success of Syriza was uniting so many diverse groups into an effective coalition. #CommonDebate
— CommonSpace (@TheCommonSpace) January 28, 2015
But others were wary of the idea of a coalition after the disaster of the ConDems.
The thorny question of awkward coalitions is broached at the #commondebate. Worked out for the lib Dems right?
— David Orr (@daveboyorr) January 28, 2015
Some people noted the abundance of head nodding going on in the room.
Watching the live stream of this #CommonDebate and at literally no point has anyone disagreed or said anything particularly challenging
— George Melhuish (@GTMelhuish) January 28, 2015
There was some #labourbashing and calls for a new sort of politics.
We do need socialism. What does that mean? Industry run by Edinburgh civil servants? That would be awful. Labourism failed. #CommonDebate
— Alistair Davidson (@moh_kohn) January 28, 2015
But others also pointed out the futility of such #murphybashing.
Top quality #MurphyBashing from @gordonmaloney at #commondebate. But Jim still got a mention, so #MurphyWins
— jim0203 (@jim0203) January 28, 2015
Audience members were interested in hearing how Common Weal could provide a space for non-party politics.
Audience member asks if @Common_Weal & @Radical_Indy can provide a non-party space to take campaigns forward. #CommonDebate
— CommonSpace (@TheCommonSpace) January 28, 2015
Some tweeters were quick to point out the classic case of the socialist ‘asks question’.
‘Question’ always means something different in the socialist dictionary… #CommonDebate
— Ross Greer (@Ross_Greer) January 28, 2015
And others questioned the viability of the panellists’ proposals.
Let’s “deepen democracy”, federalise the economy, and nationalise the TV – like this is gonna work in today’s world… #commondebate
— Francesco (@its_fb) January 28, 2015
Cat Boyd maintained that the people know that austerity is not the answer.
.@kittycatboyd: Like in Scotland the old order warned of economic catastrophe, but voters knew catastrophe was the status quo. #CommonDebate
— CommonSpace (@TheCommonSpace) January 28, 2015
And Keating underlined the irrationality of cuts.
Michael Keating: Austerity is expensive because you can’t cut your way out of a recession. It cuts demand & that’s a failure. #CommonDebate
— CommonSpace (@TheCommonSpace) January 28, 2015
There was much satisfaction with the austerity smashing.
I do love it when @gordonmaloney talks about smashing things Especially when those things are austerity + neoliberal economics #CommonDebate
— Sarah Beattie-Smith (@SarahBS_27) January 28, 2015
Speakers always returned to Scotland, and how we can be inspired by Syriza’s win and make change here.
“This beautiful capital city of Edinburgh is known as the Athens of the North. Let’s make that really happen” @kittycatboyd #commondebate
— Andy Wightman (@andywightman) January 28, 2015
Michael Keating: Austerity isn’t working. We can create a better world. New political energy can deliver change of ideas. #CommonDebate
— CommonSpace (@TheCommonSpace) January 28, 2015
And the snow outside was not forgotten.
Great #CommonDebate 2nite on Syriza – when I said about Athens of the North, I meant make it for our politics- but maybe weather also! #snow
— Cat Boyd (@kittycatboyd) January 29, 2015