Tag archive for ‘Globalisation’
Tony Judt’s lessons of the 20th century
Last week I was interviewed on Dutch radio about Ill Fares the Land, the alarming intellectual testament of the late Tony Judt. In fact, it was a double interview together with a conservative-liberal academic/politician. He expressed the usual criticism against the book, namely that it is an old-fashioned, nostalgic defence of the social-democratic European welfare [...]
The Demographic Schizophrenia of the Left: Which response?
The problems of the European center parties are a pars pro toto for what’s happening in society at large. A possible split within the people’s parties (Volksparteien) may be a foreshadowing of the split in society. What we urgently need is a new social deal, a new pact between the privileged and the less privileged, [...]
Isolationism on the Rise Among Disgruntled Electorates as Europe’s Rightward Shift Continues
The swing of Europe’s electorate to the right during the last couple of years was continued in last week’s British general election. Admittedly, unlike elsewhere, no far-right party was actually elected. This though was probably no more than a consequence of the UK’s unique electoral system. The mood of the electorate was undoubtedly towards the [...]
Inside-out: Goldman Scandal shows who the real Insiders are
The financial world has been rocked – just as it appeared to be recovering its poise – by the news that the US financial market regulator, the SEC, has accused Goldman Sachs, the most masterful of Wall Street’s masters of the universe, of fraud. Investigations into Goldman are being launched in Britain, Germany and other [...]
The Challenge of New Chauvinism in Europe
The extreme right is on the move again. Forward, not in retreat. And European social democrats are hiding their heads in the sand, but the danger is not going away. In France the Front National and in Italy the xenophobic Lega Nord got over 12 % at the recent regional elections. The upcoming elections in [...]
Discussion on “Bankers: The real Terrorists?”
Social Europe Chief Editor Stephen Haseler took part in a discussion with Jagdish Bhagwati (Columbia University) and Peter Ghavami (Troika Dialogue Investment Bank) on Russia Today’s Crosstalk programme discussing the subject: “Bankers: The real Terrorists?” Apart from the rather strange title it was a lively discussion.
After the European Elections: Why we need a more European Social Democracy
Measured against the hopes of a positive shift in power in favour of social democracy in the wake of the financial and economic crisis, European social democracy, even if the real balance of power has barely changed, is the loser in the European elections in 2009. Leaving aside the general tendency at European elections for [...]
The Copenhagen Failure shows: There is no effective Global Politics!
In the early hours of this morning the news of the failure of the Copenhagen summit on climate change hit the news wires. I won’t repeat the individual disappointments as the papers will be full of it today. But I would like to comment on the political implications of this disaster. It shows that there [...]
Lisbon: A Chance for Social Democracy
The Lisbon treaty opens up a new era for the EU, with new opportunities for social democrats. November 2009 was the twentieth anniversary of an event that has exerted an historic influence over the image and integration of the ‘old continent’ – an event which was itself a product of major European and world political [...]
Desperately seeking Social Democracy
Social democracy needs to redefine itself, and in particular it needs to separate itself from right-wing ideas. What is left of social democracy? Regrets, and a feeling of revolt. Regrets because we have failed to reconcile values, a political vision and effective practices of power. Doubts appeared a decade ago, but today it is no [...]
The Good Society Needs Good Social Democrats
Many expected that, as a result of the failure of finance capitalism and the consequent crisis of confidence, Europe’s political coordinates would shift to the left. The European elections – the first substantial political test since the outbreak of the crisis – have shown, however, that these coordinates have, if anything, shifted to the right. [...]
Reconnecting Power and Politics
Social democrats need to reassert the protective power of the state – this time through global institutions. Ten years ago Gerhard Schröder declared that: ‘economic policy is neither left not right. It is either good or bad’. Today we can conclude that this was a self-fulfilling prophecy. Then, eleven out of fifteen governments of the [...]
