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

1. The crisis in Europe

• 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.

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)