Category Archives: ordoliberalism

Opinion – The Guardian view on Trump’s visit: not welcome Britain – Editorial

July 13, 2018 By in Boris Johnson, Brexit, Defense Policy, Democracy, Donald Trump, Extreme left, Far Left, Far Right, Far-left politics, Foreign Policy, Growth, Immigration, Jeremy Corbyn, Neoliberal, ordoliberalism, Politics, Theresa May Leave a comment

Trump’s historic visit to the UK – protestors & high-minded editorials from the UK’s Guardian newspaper should not forget the importance of ‘realpolitik‘, the chance to influence events in a practical way. Although I’m no fan of Mr Trump & Mrs May, they are democratically elected leaders. By calling the UK a ‘vassal state‘, the Guardian is also guilty of peddling fake news. With Germany completely marginalized, the UK has a real opportunity to influence US policy, especially since Boris Johnson‘s departure. ‘Realpolitik’s’ a system of politics or principles based on practical rather than moral or ideological considerations. Surely, this was the objective of Brexit?

There is another thread, we should learn from the relationship of Angela Merkel and Donald Trump. Angela Merkel has been one of Germany’s most effective leaders since WWII, yet she has been isolated by Trump on trade and defense. With Merkel struggling to deliver NATO’s required 2% defense spending in the years ahead, Trump is now demanding 4% – this is totally unacceptable to German voters and her fragile coalition. If we fast-forward to the likelihood of Britain’s first Far-Left government, led by Jeremy Corbyn, it’s worth reflecting on the parallels with Germany under Merkel. As highlighted by the Economist, it’s easy to see Jeremy Corbyn slashing defense spending and drive Britain out of NATO, and possibly making the UK a vassal state of Russia or China. Let’s face it, Jeremy Corbyn does not have Angela Merkel’s leadership skills – he’s a protest politician, the polar opposite of a practitioner of realpolitik. So are we to conclude that Theresa May is right to be pragmatic, leaning towards realpolitik, given her difficult hand?

Thoughts?

AfD mobilized irrational fears of future, especially in the east, say pollsters | In Depth | DW | 25.09.2017

September 26, 2017 By in Business Administration, Democracy, Extreme right, Far Right, Fiscal Policy, Immigration, Liberal Conservatism, ordoliberalism, People, Politics Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Here’s a first-rate article from Germany’s DW. In their post-election analysis, researchers say that the Alternative for Germany‘s success cannot be reduced to any one particular group. Nonetheless, as a community, AfD supporters are unlike other German voters.

Source: AfD mobilized irrational fears of future, especially in the east, say pollsters | In Depth | DW | 25.09.2017

This article puts the AfD election success in context. There are six core threads emerging. Here are the main threads:

  1. The AfD is strong not just in the east, but also among younger eastern voters
  2. The AfD recruits significant support from former non-voters on the Internet
  3. The AfD’s success does not represent a massive lurch to the right
  4. The AfD is a protest party but not only that
  5. The AfD depends on fear of foreigners that is actually a fear of the modern world
  6. The AfD is fundamentally different from other German parties

Time will tell whether these are the only factors. For sure, Germany must face radical change in the workplace, like other advanced countries, and we must hope that those people most affected, especially the young, do not turn to the Far Right.

Since 1945, modern Germany has emerged as a beacon of democracy, with a balance of power between political classes, workers, business and the law, especially the Constitutional Court. Unfortunately, Germany’s post-war success is probably not sustainable for all. Whilst business and the wider economy will continue to grow and compete, Germany’s labour force will potentially become more hostile.

Thoughts?

 

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