The “disastrous consequences” of his new presidency are commented in “Vima” by , French-Brazilian philosopher of Jewish origin and honorary director of research for social sciences at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).
In Greece, the “fictional documentary” co-authored with the French politician of the Left has just been released Olivier Besanceno “”Red September”: The Coup d’etat of September 11, 1973 in Chile” (Themelio publications, translated by Spyros Giannaras).
What are your biggest concerns for 2025?
“Personally, my biggest concern is the rapid worsening of climate change. The blind logic of capitalist accumulation brings us to the brink of destruction. Unfortunately, at the same time, far-right and neo-fascist forces committed to climate change denial are on the rise everywhere. I’m having a hard time understanding it.”
What do you expect the new Trump presidency to bring?
“It will be a disaster for the Palestinian people because of their blind support for (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin)’s murderous clique.” It is also a risk to Latin America. I don’t think it unlikely that he would encourage anti-democratic military circles in coups to install dictatorships. Another tragic result of his presidency will be his full support for the exploitation of fossil fuels and his sabotage of all – very modest and inadequate – efforts at international climate regulation.”
Do you think it will end the war in Ukraine, one of the “fronts” that remain open entering 2025? Trump’s proposal does not satisfy the Kremlin, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
“I hope that the war in , for which (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is entirely responsible, will end soon. But I cannot predict how this will happen. Probably with a compromise, whereby Russia will keep the currently occupied territories. A democratic solution, however, would mean consulting the population living in these areas on whether they wish to live in Russia or Ukraine. No one suggests it. Each side has exclusive ‘territorial’ claims.”
Europe – Germany and France in the first place – is reeling from an unprecedented political crisis, under the threat of steadily rising far-right forces.
“Naturally. It is on the rise all over Europe and especially in France and Germany. In France there is a united front of the Left, the New Popular Front. He managed to prevent (far-right Marine) Le Pen from winning the parliamentary elections. There is nothing similar in Germany, where elections are expected in February.”
Syria, with the overthrow of the Assad regime, was the big surprise at the end of 2024. A Turkish invasion of the Kurdish areas of northern Syria is now expected. What do you think will eventually happen to the Kurdish factor in the region? Will Ankara crush him?
“Turkey wants to destroy the autonomous republic of Rojava, which is under Kurdish administration in northern Syria. It is an experience of women’s emancipation, multinational solidarity and socialist aspirations that is unique in the Middle East, if not the world. Will Ankara succeed? It will depend on the major powers, on the new rulers of Syria, on the democratic opposition in Turkey and above all on the resistance capacity of the Syrian Democratic Forces of Rojava. An international solidarity movement could help.”
Why did you decide to deal with the bloody coup in Chile today and not earlier?
“For my generation the military coup of 1973 was a terrible setback, a tragedy that will never be forgotten. And Olivier (Besançon) had developed a keen interest in the history of the Chilean Revolutionary Left (MIR) and its founder, Miguel Enriquez, who was assassinated in 1974 by the military. It was therefore natural that we wanted to do something for the 50th anniversary of “Red September”. Of course, the unexpected rebellion in Chile in 2019-2020 also gave us another reason. We also wanted to convey the historical events of 1973 to new generations, in France and elsewhere.”
What can the events of 1973 in Chile teach us today?
“The first lesson is that US imperialism and the ruling classes in Latin America tolerate democracy only as long as it is not a threat to their interests. If they believe that democracy can touch their privileges, they do not hesitate to use their military hand to crush democracy and exterminate the Left, trade unions and popular movements.”
In your latest book you write that “we abandoned the ‘utopian’ scenario of rewriting history” of Augusto Pinochet’s coup in Chile. Why do you describe the recording of historical events as “utopian” and what was the danger of “misunderstanding” that you point out, regarding your intentions?
“Our ‘utopian’ scenario, which stages a victory for Salvador Allende and Popular Unity against the Pinochet coup, would give the impression that we want to teach the Chilean revolutionaries a lesson. We had no such arrogant intention!”
If Henry Kissinger, Richard Nixon, Pinochet et al were alive, would you dare to give them the lively dialogues we read again?
“Most of the quotes attributed to both Nixon and Kissinger and Pinochet are authentic. Whether the characters in the book are dead or alive played absolutely no role in its writing. Minimal dialogues are fantastic, but absolutely obvious. We had used literary tools in our previous books as well, such as in our essay “The Kingdom of Liberty”, about the utopia of a free society, and in “Marx in Paris, 1871”, about Marx’s visit to the Paris Commune. .
Let’s close with the wish you want to make for 2025?
“Peaceful and democratic solution, respecting the right of national self-determination, in Ukraine, in the Middle East and everywhere else. Victory of Rojava in Syria and the Burmese democratic resistance. Defeat of the neo-fascists. And some serious measures to drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Wishing is not enough. Fighting for these goals is the only way.”
The book by Olivier Bezancenot and Michael Levi “Red September: The Coup of September 11, 1973 in Chile” (Themelio publications, translated by Spyros Giannaras) will be presented on Monday, January 13 at ETERON (Leokoriou 38-40, Athens, 7:00 p.m. ). The writer Mikael Levi and the journalist Christina Pantzou will speak. Spyros Giannaras, the translator of the book, will speak and Kostas Athanasiou, translator, will moderate.
