Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This article by Ulrich Beck, published in the Social Europe Journal, is WELL WORTH A READ. Check it out!

via Germany Has Created An Accidental Empire – Ulrich Beck – Social Europe Journal.

For me, Ulrich Beck’s model seems to be designed around recent German history. In my view, it does not necessarily clarify matters as to the future direction of socialization in Europe. Let me share my own views.

I agree that Germany is the dominant force in Europe; I further believe that the dominance has come from Germany’s economic strength. From Germany’s economic strength, given economic weakness in much of Southern Europe, Germany has secured political strength.

Germany believes in conservative national economic housekeeping; in formal terms, this model is called neoliberalism. However, in Germany’s case, because of her history and firm belief in effective state controls, there is a unique German brand of neoliberalism which is referred to as ordoliberalism, in formal terms.

I very much accept that Angela Merkel‘s Germanic model or vision is based upon ordoliberalism. Whilst I respect ordoliberalism, I also believe that Keynesian interventions are appropriate too, especially in the case of Southern Europe.

Let me express this differently by way of an open question:

Are we entering a new age of Germany led socialization in Europe?

Any thoughts?

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