'hoodies’; on the other hand, it sympathises with the accumulated anger of the protestors. In other words, the social framework is volatile and disappointment with the government is increasing. At the same time, this confirms that the violent protestors are not isolated and marginal elements but reflect society as a whole. The entire political and social system appears to have failed. The young people who are protesting have no other channels of expression and representation. They despise and jeer at the political parties. The parties, in turn, address their protests merely by wheeling out their familiar'stock phrases' and outdated analyses, or try to co-opt the demonstrators. But while these protests go beyond parties, the unorganised protesters have no means of articulating a coherent political platform of their own. The Future Is Still Uncertain It is to be doubted that the Greek political system will be able to take on board these new forms of protest. In any case, their causes are by their very nature resistant to incorporation by the system. Coexistence of the protests and the current system is unlikely. It will be necessary to look closely at what happens during the coming weeks – how the atmosphere in society evolves and how both the government and the opposition react. * The article presents the opinion of the author. It therefore does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. [ 1 ] Nicolas Voulelis is Director of the Athens News Agency in Athens.