European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

Neo-solidarity

by Jerome a Paris
Mon Jun 11th, 2007 at 08:10:09 AM EST

30 years of a victorious ideological drive captured in a couple of sentences in an article from the Guardian this morning:

"It's all very well to support solidarity and national cohesion, it's quite another to damage yourself or endanger your own growth," says Mr Guardans of Catalonia. "We only want to receive back what we pay in."

he subscribes to their views on how national wealth should be shared. "The south just takes us for granted, they truly believe in the one-way flow of our money to the south. It's not right. Of course, we need to do something to support the weaker parts of the country. But I don't want to do it personally. It would be better to split up."

We're happy that the poor don't actually subsidize us, and we're happy if they show solidarity for one another (we're not heartless, we don't need others to be selfish, just us), as long as it costs us no money. Not now, not later.

This is the world we live in, and it is quite striking to see that the Guardian has bought the narrative in full, accepting uncritically that richer areas are "centers of excellence" that generate all their wealth with no public intervention whatsoever, and not even noting that if you don't contribute, it's hard to call it 'solidarity' in any meaningful way.

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Neo-solidarity | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Neo-solidarity (4.00 / 4)

My diary on consumers and communities outlines this to some extent but it is so striking to see such comments being made and being accepted without criticism. It shows how deep that Thatcherism/New Right ideology has infiltrated and moulded the public mindset.

It bitterly disappoints me.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Mon Jun 11th, 2007 at 08:40:39 AM EST

Re: Neo-solidarity (4.00 / 4)

They are probably all for solidarity between gated communities.

endanger your own growth
Blargh! It's really all about the growth. I can't even read 'growth' anymore without breaking out in hives. More money for development of high growth areas? To keep them growing more? It's like those brainless 'incentive' based school policies where under performing schools get less money. Because with 'performance based' funding, they'll learn to do better next time? Yeah, less money to the poor, that'll teach them to get their 'growth' inline with elites. What are those lazy, stupid people doing 'growthing' so slowly anyway? They bring down the national average. Damn them. Oooo, I know, let's start a separatist movement of the rich... Oh, I guess they already did.
I think I'm gonna puke now...

by someone (s0me1smail(a)gmail(d)com) on Mon Jun 11th, 2007 at 08:45:05 AM EST

Re: Neo-solidarity (4.00 / 2)

They are probably all for solidarity between gated communities.

Yes, the solidarity of the feudal lords in the face of peasant rebellions.

Like the alliance of the European Absolute Monarchies against the revolutionary movements throughout the 19th century.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 11th, 2007 at 09:01:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Neo-solidarity (4.00 / 4)

we need to do something to support the weaker parts of the country. But I don't want to do it personally.

well the alternative is so romantic in fiction but much less enjoyable in real life.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Mon Jun 11th, 2007 at 08:57:00 AM EST

Re: Neo-solidarity (4.00 / 2)

it is quite striking to see that the Guardian has bought the narrative in full

The Guardian is supposed to be close to the Labour Party, and you know what that is like these days.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 11th, 2007 at 09:02:40 AM EST

Re: Neo-solidarity (none / 1)

As I said in another thread, it's an ideology which he supports competition between regions (or networks of regions) at global level and is promoted by economists like Japanese economist Kenichi Ohmae. He develops his thesis of the rise of the "region-state" in his book "The Next Global Stage".

"Ce qui vient au monde pour ne rien troubler ne mérite ni égards ni patience." René Char

by Melanchthon on Mon Jun 11th, 2007 at 09:22:41 AM EST

'Competition between regions' (4.00 / 2)

This sounds like the G14 - the league of the ultra-rich football clubs to 'compete' in their own cozy superleague which gets all the TV money and all the profits.

Strangely enough, there's a close match between the regions that no longer want solidarity and the cities with G14 clubs (Barcelona, Milan, Chelsea, Lyon, Munich, etc...)

This is all about solidarity within a given class/group.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Mon Jun 11th, 2007 at 09:34:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: 'Competition between regions' (none / 1)

As far as I know, French regions haven't so far openly expressed this type of demand (less solidarity). Probably because real decentralisation is recent. But with the new ideology in power, it could happen soon.

"Ce qui vient au monde pour ne rien troubler ne mérite ni égards ni patience." René Char

by Melanchthon on Mon Jun 11th, 2007 at 10:46:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Neo-solidarity (none / 1)

...it is quite striking to see that the Guardian has bought the narrative in full

I don't read that article as the Guardian 'buying in' to the narrative - they are reporting on a phenomenon that is articulating the narrative.

On the whole I would say that the authorial tone is neutral WRT what they are saying, although the examples given in the 'historical context' bit towards the end (Slovak secession, break-up of Yugoslavia, EU narrowing of the wealth gap in Ireland, Iberia, Greece etc) make a subtle point about what the consequences of such thinking can be and indicates a rather negative editorial attitude towards the rich enclaves.

Regards
Luke

-- #include witty_sig.h

by silburnl on Mon Jun 11th, 2007 at 11:27:15 AM EST

Neo-solidarity | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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