As a publishing event, Alexis Tsipras’ book is already considered a success. What’s less certain is that it is also a political event.

Politics is a simple process that usually requires a subject and an audience.

In this case, the subject is the former Prime Minister himself, of course, but he doesn’t seem to have any new tricks up his sleeve. And his audience remains vague and inscrutable.

Is he addressing the broken Left? Or the weakened Center-Left? Is it both or something else? No one’s really sure. And it’s not clear if the author will be revealing his ambitions any time soon… if he has any.

In theory, the former Prime Minister is attempting something rarely seen in politics: presenting himself at the same time as both Someone Else and a continuation of his former self. I don’t know if he’s going to pull it off, but it won’t be easy.

Still more so since, even after a careful reading of his magnum opus, I can’t make out a plan or even a method. It seems more like an attempt at personal vindication, even in relation to decisions that are very hard to justify.

It’s true, of course, that the former Prime Minister is addressing a political space that looks like No Man’s Land. But it is not clear who will decide to follow him over the top, or why they’d do such a thing.

Still more so when he’s hung out to dry a number of those who have been tentatively placed in his camp. To the point where you’re left wondering if he is actually planning something, or just settling accounts.

In any case, the Opposition lacks the sort of leadership that could unite it and make it competitive. And it’s far from certain that Alexis Tsipras will be able to fill that gap.

If he even wants to… though common sense tells you he does. Why else would he have embarked on this whole publishing venture, if he wasn’t looking for something, and not just money?

On the other hand, it is considerably easier to publish a book about yourself than it is to build a political party around you.

Even if your most convincing and realistic argument is that, if no one steps up, the Greek Left is heading for the cliff edge. “Unite and perhaps be saved” makes sense as a battle cry.

As long as they want to be saved, of course. And as long as they can come together without scratching each other’s eyes out.