29/08 The effects of the global crisis in Europe: Willem Bos and Alex Merlo

1. The crisis in Europe

Outline

• Limitations, of the report
  • Based on limited experiences, focused at the EU and not on broader Europe.
  • Lack of a European policy of the FI.

• Summary of the character of the crisis
  • Capitalism = periodical crisis, short cycles and long waves.
  • 1930, great depression, 1946-1974-5 golden years, 1980-neoliberalisme.
  • Characteristics of neoliberalisme: Liberalization, privatization, globalization, changes in international division of labour, financialisation, role of debt. Serious setbacks for word working class.
  • 2007, subprime crisis, financial crisis, economic crisis, sovereign debt crisis, crisis of the euro system.
  • Background: environment crisis, global warming.

• The European context.
  • EU as an economic project.
  • Passing by democracy.
  • The forming of the euro zone, and his consequences.
  • Concurrence in the field of labour wages etc. and the environment.
  • Growing differences between North and South (and East and West).

• The European ‘solution’
  • Let the people pay, let the system function again.
  • Putting aside democracy.
  • Heavy austerity programs, dept pump for indebted countries.
  • Debate in Europe:
  • Euro bonds, economic government, strict norms, etc.
  • Is a debate on how to make working class pay for the crisis.

• Consequences:
  • Economically: no solution.
  • Democratically: unacceptable.
  • Environmental: disastrously.
  • Rise of xenophobic anti European right, division of the working class.

• Alternative
  • Anti capitalist solution.
  • Understanding the character of the crisis and de relationship with environmental crisis.
  • Changing the exciting balance of forces.
  • Building movements against austerity plans etc.
  • Programmatically: Internationalist answers, another Europe (world) is possible.

Readings

1. "A crisis without end", Michel Husson

2. Global crisis and the policy reaction in Western and Eastern European Union Özlem Onaran

3. A European strategy for the left Michel Husson

4. Stop payment – Cancel the Debt - Nationalize the banks under workers control - Leave the euro zone and the EU now! Antarsya

5. Facing the debt crisis in Europe Damien Millet, Eric Toussaint

6. Eight key proposals for another Europe Eric Toussaint

2. The struggles in Europe: Balance and Perspectives

• Statement by Anti-capitalist Left conference Adopted in London on 12th June 2011

• "The “Movement of the Squares” and the perspectives it creates" Athens, June 2011, Nikos Symeonides (OKDE Spartakos)