Even in Capitalists’ Bad Times, Europe’s Socialists Suffer

[Psephos]

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/world/europe/29socialism.html

PARIS — A specter is haunting Europe — the specter of Socialism’s slow collapse.

Even in the midst of one of the greatest challenges to capitalism in 75 years, involving a breakdown of the financial system due to “irrational exuberance,” greed and the weakness of regulatory systems, European Socialist parties and their left-wing cousins have not found a compelling response, let alone taken advantage of the right’s failures.

German voters clobbered the Social Democratic Party on Sunday, giving it only 23 percent of the vote, its worst performance since World War II. Voters also punished left-leaning candidates in the summer’s European Parliament elections and trounced French Socialists in 2007. Where the left holds power, as in Spain and Britain, it is under attack. Where it is out, as in France, Italy and now Germany, it is divided and listless.

Some American conservatives demonize President Obama’s fiscal stimulus and health care overhaul as a dangerous turn toward European-style Socialism — but it is Europe’s right, not left, that is setting its political agenda.

Europe’s center-right parties have embraced many ideas of the left: generous welfare benefits, nationalized health care, sharp restrictions on carbon emissions, the ceding of some sovereignty to the European Union. But they have won votes by promising to deliver more efficiently than the left, while working to lower taxes, improve financial regulation, and grapple with aging populations.

<snip>

Read more: NY Times - Global Edition

[MajorChode]

1. The center-right in Europe would be far left in the US

[sasquatch]

3. Yeah but that would mean the media would have to lose that stupid false sense of neutrality

[earcandle]

2. Wow!

That means we are influencing them in a bad way.

Better straighten out fast. 

[anonymous171]

4. Europe is capitalist, make no mistake. Their elite benefit from the system, just like ours do. nt

[Alamuti Lotus]

5. due entirely to their fraudulent presentation and acquiescence with the ruling order

[defendandprotect]

6. NY Times acknowledging capitalism in trouble . . . !!! No wonder Pittsburgh!!!

Or is "the specter of socialism's slow collapse" the cover story for it ?

And the reality that the GOP worked for decades to overturn New Deal Regulations/Laws
governing the financial world is buried in the trite recitation of "irrational exuberance and
greed."

PLUS . . . "Operation Gladio" in Europe post-WWII worked for decades to keep the right-wing in power.
In fact, often the right wing are at the top of the heap?

And of course, this attack on the left was also introduced in America long ago --

Where has it ceased?

Needless to say, France and other countries have seen attacks on their social programs/benefits.

Remember Thatcher -- war and cuts to social programs?

What is it that conservatives fail to "demonize" . . . except maybe slavery and harvesting slave
labor around the world?

This is all farce -- capitalism is going down . . .

Imagine capitalism without the bailouts?

Anyone who wants to continue with this farce should be tossed out of Congress --

Start re-regulating capitalism now --

Restore our laws -- from Fairness in Broadcasting to Glass-Seagall -- etal --

[David__77]

7. Because the "third way" pseudo-socialists have no ideology.

They have no program for a new society. They do not want a socialist society, but rather to placate people with nice words. In Europe, "socialists" have been the greatest champions of neo-liberalism and austerity and privatization, whether in Poland, Hungary, Germany, Britain, on and on. It's little wonder this is happening. And the traditional communist parties have yet to awaken from their self-imposed irrational defeatism. Only in Czechoslovakia are they a force to reckon with, and there only because they haven't been timid and passive.

[edwardian]

18. European socialism

is ideologically pale, but the left has been pragmatic, so the need for old words from old theorists is moot. BTW, Czechoslovakia doesnt exist and hasnt for many years. The countries that were formally groupoed under that name are nows known as the Czech Republic and Slovakia, fyi. "No program for a new society..." Have you ever even visited Europe? (Lived ther for 20 years and have been witness to much social renewal.

[David__77]

23. It doesn't matter. Czech Republic.

With all the splittism, I lapse into old formulations when I'm tired. My point is still valid. The KSCM is a fighting leftist party, a model for Europe.

[cyclezealot]

19. Only in the Czech Rep..?. Is the opposition pro-active.?

Don't think so.. The center right takes on the left's social welfare position because they know the barricades is the last resort of the opposition. Don't be so sure the left is shut out in Germany.. The far left party abandoned the Social Democrats because of their co-habitation with Merkel.. Now Merkel is aligned with the Far Right Bavarian party - the Free Democrats.. Should they force her hand, the left will be in the streets.
Do the math.. The Greens and Left Party of radical SDPers and Communists both received over 10 percent of the vote. That adds up to over 40 percent of the vote.. now, the SDP will be free to be the opposition and if Merkel goes too far, expect the fun to begin..

[democrat2thecore]

8. Because Europe's Socialists Ceased Being Socialists

The traditional "socialist" parties of Western Europe are no longer socialist, they are capitalist-lite. Remember the fight in Britain when Tony Blair ushered in "New Labour?" Remember the removal of the word "socialist" from their platform - yet they belonged to the "Socialist International?" Is Britain's Labour Party socialist anymore? Nope. Are any of the old "Socialist" parties of Western Europe truly "socialist" anymore? Nope. Even the Social Democrats and Scandinavia's "social democracy" parties are capitalist-lite.

The parties on the "left" in Europe are spread around several parties as opposed to our traditional two-party system in the USA. But, at one time, at least the "socialist parties" were "developing socialism." None of them claim that anymore. They regulate more. They talk a good talk about "economic justice." They still wear red carnations and roses (depending on where you are) - but are they socialists? No, they are not.

When you have the choice between the real capitalist parties and the fake capitalist parties, people are going with the real thing. The socialist parties of Western Europe, as a whole, simply don't stand for anything anymore. The message has been so diluted that alliances that were once strong are shaky, coalitions that were once feared - are laughed at. Big capital has moved these parties to the right, the people are opting for the real thing and the traditional "socialist" parties are losing. Will it mean much? In most cases, no. It's like here in the USA, on fundamental issues, there is little difference when governing for the ruling, elite class; and make no mistake - that's what they do.


- fixed spelling error in edit -

[sasquatch]

9. It's the DLC spread out to the rest of the europe

[democrat2thecore]

10. With the "center" being more to the left in Europe, you're right - exactly like that. -nt

[tiny elvis]

14. neoliberalism (dlc)

like oxymoronic neoconservatism, has no genuine meaning beyond the prefix
neoliberals and neoconservatives do not even criticize each other's agendas
though they disagree about who and how many need to be murdered for success

[Teaser]

11. So the basic critique is...

the left has won so thoroughly in Europe it is being out-lefted by the right.


whatever.

[OHdem10]

12. There is a vast difference in the Right in Europe and the Right in USA

First all parties subscribe to Social Democracy. The Right
in Europe are not trying to end the Social Safety Net. They
believe in it. They believe they (Right) can be more efficient
in managing the Social Safety Net. Yes, they would be more willing
to make cuts.

An example of the difference in attitudes towards business.
Sarcozy of Framce once in an interview with Charlie Rose really
criticized business practices in US. The extreme pay for Executives.
and you could almost see contempt for the "Golden Parachutes"
afforded our Exutives. Sarcozy if from the Right and is very
proud of the fact.

[cyclezealot]

21. Mostly agree.

But, Merkel's alliance with the Free Democrats will ultimately tie her hands. The Free Democrats are historically one of the most libertarian parties in all of Europe.. The Free Democrats put on a show to make them seem more main stream. I think it is just that. A show.. Angela Merkel is more popular than her CDU.. Should the Free Democrats return to their normal positions expect Merkel's popularity to tank and opposition to rise dramatically.. Will she reign them in. The Free Democrats call their home Bavaria. mostly. So what does one expect. ?.
This might be a good thing for the German left. The SPD can again become itself. The party of Willy Brandt. The Free Democrats want a 50 billion euro tax cut.. Should this happen and Germany goes the way of George BUsh's economics, expect real partying in the streets when budget cuts fly up against the values of Social Democracy.

[w4rma]

13. I expect it was the German socialist party's position on immigration that hurt them.

My understanding is that they were for more of it.

[pampango]

22. I think you're right that the German left is more pro-immigration, while Merkel and the right

are known to be anti-immigration. That seems to be true in most, if not all, of Europe.

[BOG PERSON]

15. Here, in the USA, social democracy is a distant dream.

But there, in "Europe", social democracy is a fading reality. Too bad, so sad.

[xchrom]

16. i love europe -- but they are the original old whores.

much of their left political institutions were/are corrupt and the people know it.

their center politics -- while to the left of the u.s. -- are more firmly rooted in neo-liberalism -- they invented it after all -- and it is insidious and invasive.

by the same token 'Thatcherist ' right wingers aren't in control -- yet.

[DFW]

17. The article fails to distinguish between Social Democrats and Socialists

Whereas a purely Socialist system would mean government ownership of most industry, a Social Democratic
system, the one tried in most of Europe at one point or another, is a mixed bag of State involvement and
private enterprise. When they have a clear vision, the Social Democrats often win. When they either have
no clear vision (Germany's election of last Sunday) or try to go farther than the country wants (France),
they often lose. This is not a collapse any more than the Republicans collapsed when Bill Clinton swept
into office winning both houses of Congress in 1992. In France, when the Socialists tried veering toward
a real Socialist agenda, nationalizing big private institutions, it happened as it always happens: they
gave positions of responsibility to bureaucrats who had party loyalty but no practical know-how, and their
experiment failed. State seizure of private property may feel good to have-nots, but it does the State
no good if what if seized is ultimately mismanaged or allowed to disappear through corruption. The Soviet
system failed. The Swedish system succeeded. That is the difference between Socialism and Social Democracy,
although no one bitches more about the Swedish system than the Swedes. But here in Europe, almost everyone
has some complaint or other about the place where they live unless they are Swiss.

The right and the left in Europe always promise more than they can possibly deliver, and so power switches
back and forth as one government after another messes up sooner or later, although if Tony Blair hadn't
followed Bush into Iraq, his Labour party might still have been sitting pretty now instead of being headed
for almost certain defeat in the next election. The French Socialists had a good shot of taking back the
presidency of France in their last election, but chose a rigid, inept well-off ideologue as their candidate,
and Sarkozy was given a free ride into the Elysée Palace. Ideological rigidity is not idealism, which is
why Obama is still viewed as a figure of hope here in Europe. He is seen as an idealist with good intentions,
but tempered by reality rather than rigid ideology. Europe could use some of that, both on the right and the
left. Only because social systems are in place from the two post-war decades have countries like France and
Germany managed to maintain social safety nets through every rightist government that has ever come along.
Of course, if this "compassionate conservatism" practiced by post-war European governments of the right had
ever been proposed in the USA, cries of "kommanism!" would have been heard from sea to polluted sea.

[tocqueville]

20. the European center-right is social-democratic today

which means "socialist" by US standards. The classical social-democrats have failed to implement their ideas because they often have been afraid to alienate the left (communists and affiliates) which has led to inconsistent policies. This pattern is irreversible and the classical left will become more and more isolated and probably replaced by more "consensual" ecologists.