Exploratory Essay- Where will Greece be in 5 years based on the past revolutions of France and Russia?
Jessica Shaw
Global Themes: 1
Mrs. Ward
4/10/12
The events that occurred in the modern day Greek Revolution had an unmistakable impact on the country’s government, economy and society. In return for two massive bailout packages, austerity measures have been demanded by France and Germany putting Greece into a great recession. The Greek government has resorted to taxing the wealthy, desperately trying to fix their broken economy. The French Revolution went from 1788-1799 and was a direct result of anger, violence and high tax rates only applying to a certain group of people (McDougal). The Russian Revolution was caused by social problems that were escalated by many protests and riots such as Bloody Sunday (McDougal). The past events of the Russian and French Revolutions will help me to determine what the outcome of the modern day Greek crisis will be.
Violence has increased in the Greek crisis just like one of the bloodiest revolutions in history, the French Revolution. As the majority of the population in France could not afford basic foods like bread, people became frustrated. In 1725, Barbier stated in his journal “Bakers rose prices of their bread in Faubourg Saint-Antoine…eighteen hundred people gathered, furious with the bakers in general…looted all of the baker’s houses…and threw dough and flour into the gutters,” (Chronique de la regence et du regne de Louis XV ou journal de Barbier). This is an exemplary representation of citizens believing that violence was necessary to achieve change in their lives. Yet, the only thing the rioters accomplished was wasting the already scarce ingredients of dough and flour, and injuring bakers. Many other violent acts such as the Storming of the Bastille and the Great Fear occurred during the late 1700s of France, only resulting in the loss of innocent lives and lost credibility of the revolutionaries (Littell). I believe that Greece will have more violent years ahead of them. Fierce riots have already started become more frequent in Greece. This is evident by the image of protesters in Athens burning a Christmas tree outside of the parliament on December 8, 2008.
Global Themes: 1
Mrs. Ward
4/10/12
The events that occurred in the modern day Greek Revolution had an unmistakable impact on the country’s government, economy and society. In return for two massive bailout packages, austerity measures have been demanded by France and Germany putting Greece into a great recession. The Greek government has resorted to taxing the wealthy, desperately trying to fix their broken economy. The French Revolution went from 1788-1799 and was a direct result of anger, violence and high tax rates only applying to a certain group of people (McDougal). The Russian Revolution was caused by social problems that were escalated by many protests and riots such as Bloody Sunday (McDougal). The past events of the Russian and French Revolutions will help me to determine what the outcome of the modern day Greek crisis will be.
Violence has increased in the Greek crisis just like one of the bloodiest revolutions in history, the French Revolution. As the majority of the population in France could not afford basic foods like bread, people became frustrated. In 1725, Barbier stated in his journal “Bakers rose prices of their bread in Faubourg Saint-Antoine…eighteen hundred people gathered, furious with the bakers in general…looted all of the baker’s houses…and threw dough and flour into the gutters,” (Chronique de la regence et du regne de Louis XV ou journal de Barbier). This is an exemplary representation of citizens believing that violence was necessary to achieve change in their lives. Yet, the only thing the rioters accomplished was wasting the already scarce ingredients of dough and flour, and injuring bakers. Many other violent acts such as the Storming of the Bastille and the Great Fear occurred during the late 1700s of France, only resulting in the loss of innocent lives and lost credibility of the revolutionaries (Littell). I believe that Greece will have more violent years ahead of them. Fierce riots have already started become more frequent in Greece. This is evident by the image of protesters in Athens burning a Christmas tree outside of the parliament on December 8, 2008.
These protesters are clearly enraged with the failing Greek economy and have decided to make their anger evident by burning down a Christmas tree. Does that seem like a clear, purposeful action? Are the people of Greece trying to create everlasting change by burning a Christmas tree? In this image Greeks students are attacking Greek police officers showing the resentment many Greeks have and their determination to cause chaos for all.
Although, the violence during the French Revolution did get rid of the monarch-based government, it also resulted in the death of 40,000 civilians, most of who were innocent (Littlell). The violent acts of the French radicals terrorized French citizens, outlawed religious behaviors, and killed strong supporters of the revolution’s ideals, such as Georges Danton. Most people joined out of fear for their own lives (Littell). As there is no widespread starvation, or unfair treatment among the poor in Greece, I do not believe that the violence in Greece will be to the same extent as it was in France. However, the wild behavior in Greece has already gained momentum and will probably get worse, resulting in many innocent deaths. I think that the violence in Greece will reach a point where others feel afraid to stand against the revolutionaries.
As the Greek government demands high taxes from the rich, the monarch-based government during the French Revolution had high taxes on the Third Estate. The First and Second Estates had privileges such as exemptions from paying taxes and these privileges were not granted to members of the Third Estate (Littell). Currently, in Greece, one of Lucas Papademos's plans is to increase taxation on luxury goods, therefore directly aiming to increase taxation on the wealthy, in an attempt to financially balance out the country (Brabant, BBC News). About 97 percent of the people in France belonged to the Third Estate, including members of the bourgeoisie (middle class) and the urban workers of France's cities. This political cartoon shows the members of the First and Second estate riding on the backs of an exhausted and weak member of the Third Estate.
As the Greek government demands high taxes from the rich, the monarch-based government during the French Revolution had high taxes on the Third Estate. The First and Second Estates had privileges such as exemptions from paying taxes and these privileges were not granted to members of the Third Estate (Littell). Currently, in Greece, one of Lucas Papademos's plans is to increase taxation on luxury goods, therefore directly aiming to increase taxation on the wealthy, in an attempt to financially balance out the country (Brabant, BBC News). About 97 percent of the people in France belonged to the Third Estate, including members of the bourgeoisie (middle class) and the urban workers of France's cities. This political cartoon shows the members of the First and Second estate riding on the backs of an exhausted and weak member of the Third Estate.
People of the Third Estate felt that they were being treated unfairly and wanted change, badly. Similar unfair changes, such as austerity measures, have been introduced to Greek society recently. These measures include higher property taxes; luxury levies on yachts, pools and cars; and special levies on profitable firms, high-value properties and people with high incomes (Reuters, BBC News Business). Although some new measures are hurting low-income people as well, most measures are affecting the upper-class citizens. In Greece’s 2010 tax reform to cut deficit, it states that “people who make between 0-12,000 Euros will have a 0% income tax… people who make above $100,000 will pay 45% of their income to the government,” (Reuters). This large percentage gap between taxation causes great resentment among the wealthy. The upper-middle class feels exactly like the Third Estate did. However, the Third Estate members responded to this unfair treatment by revolting against the government while the wealthy in Greece are responding by taking their money out of the Greek economy.
http://www.bloomberg.com/video/59855186/
Wealthy Greeks Buy London Luxury Homes. Bloomberg . Web. 27 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.bloomberg.com/video/59855186/>.
Wealthy Greeks Buy London Luxury Homes. Bloomberg . Web. 27 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.bloomberg.com/video/59855186/>.
The outcome of the Greek Crisis will differ from the French Revolution. The rich will instead continue to invest their money abroad, where it is safe from the high taxation, and unlike the bourgeoisie, will not be leading a revolution in the near future.
The social conditions in Greece are similar to the ones leading to the rise of Socialism in Russia. In Greece, at least 20% of the nation is in poverty, indicating a growing gap between the rich and the poor (CIA World Factbook). In the Spiegel Online Photo Gallery, there is a photo with the caption of “A beggar with her child in the center of Athens. There has been a dramatic rise in the number of homeless people—by up to 25 percent in Athens alone,” (Skyrocketing Poverty in Greece).
The CIA World Factbook states that 22% of Greece is currently living in poverty. Most Greeks want the condition of their lives to improve, and feel that a more balanced society would stimulate economic prosperity for everyone. The peasants of Russia were given land to live/work on in the early 1900’s; however, in return for the land, the poor had to eventually pay the government back. These people did not have that sort of money, ultimately tying them to an immense debt. The people became impoverished, since they could not produce enough crops, and did not have enough to give to the government as well as feed their families (McDougal). While the peasants in Russia were starving, the rich were living a lavish lifestyle with plenty of food to spare. Soon, Karl Marx started to spread his ideas for a society that was equal, called communism throughout Russia. Eventually a modified version of communism, called socialism was formed and supported by the peasants and the proletariat class (Littell 438). The unemployment rate has quickly increased in Greece, reaching 17% (CIA World Factbook). This rate in Greece will most likely increase over the next few years, as the austerity measures make it harder for people to make money, resulting in desperation for change. It could be conjectured that in about five years, the Greek form of government will be eschewed, and replaced with a different type of rule that will satisfy the revolutionaries hunger for change and prosperity.
Riots in Greece have resulted in deaths of protestors, just as Bloody Sunday had in Russia. The poor citizens of Russia had terrible working conditions and were denied many rights. The peasants decided to stage a peaceful protest to present a petition of demands to the king. The Czar’s general became frightened by the mass amounts of people and ordered his soldiers to fire into the crowd of protestors. More than 1,000 were wounded and several hundred were killed giving the name of this event, Bloody Sunday (McDougal). The following video shows this mass murder.
Riots in Greece have resulted in deaths of protestors, just as Bloody Sunday had in Russia. The poor citizens of Russia had terrible working conditions and were denied many rights. The peasants decided to stage a peaceful protest to present a petition of demands to the king. The Czar’s general became frightened by the mass amounts of people and ordered his soldiers to fire into the crowd of protestors. More than 1,000 were wounded and several hundred were killed giving the name of this event, Bloody Sunday (McDougal). The following video shows this mass murder.
Bloody Sunday. Russian Revolution Riots . Web. 26 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J6afJY9ab4>.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J6afJY9ab4>.
Nearly one hundred years later on the night of December 6, 2008 a special guard of the police shot 15 year old Alexander Grigoropoulos after clashing between two guards in Greece (BBC News). Thousands of Greek citizens were outraged by this death resulting in days of consecutive protesting. In 2010, BBC News reports that “The riots that followed the killing saw cars being set alight and shops looted in a number of cities. Hundreds of businesses in Athens were targeted and the second city of Thessaloniki also saw serious unrest,” (Brabant). There have also been many suicides throughout Greece such as a 77-year-old pharmacist who shot himself outside of parliament; his suicide note stated that he was killing himself due to the austerity measures recently imposed, causing fellow citizens to blame the government for his death. “Protestors marched into Syntagma Square in 2011…some chanting, ‘This was not suicide - it was murder committed by the state’,” (Klasky, Chicago Tribune). This merciless killing of Bloody Sunday, made the people believe that Nicholas II, the Czar that was in power, did not want what was best for the people and was not on their side. Twelve years later, when the March Revolution of 1917 finally took place, people came to the streets to protest and this time when the Czar ordered his soldiers to control the crowd, the soldiers simply joined the people. The Czar was forced to step down due to the pressure from the population and demand for change (Littell). This shows that once people lose trust and faith in their government they become determined to put the ruler out of power. The people of Greece are only becoming more upset with the new taxes and austerity measures. The killing of Alexander and other Greek citizens made the people of Greece realize how bad their situation truly is and in 5 years, the people of Greece will revolt.
The result of the Russian Revolution was the change from a monarchy to a socialist-based system through mass protests. The French Revolution went through a period of great bloodshed to achieve more equal taxation among its people. The violence in Greece will increase until it affects everyone, creating great chaos as the people of France went through during the 1700’s. The social hostility currently going on in the Greek crisis will encourage the people to resort to a socialist system as Russia decided to do in the 1900’s. Within the next five years, the people of Greece will become even more frustrated with the government and turn to a a system with Socialist policies.