AN INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN WOLF ON THE CRISIS OF DEMOCRATIC CAPITALISM
The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism ,?Martin Wolf’s new book, is released this week, on February 2nd. I am delighted to have had a review copy in advance, and the chance to interview Martin about it last week. I met him at the Financial Times office, close to St Paul’s Cathedral in London. It was my third meeting with him, so there was little need for introductions and I managed to get a pretty full hour of questions answered. But Martin is the kind of person I could talk to all day long, and I had far more questions than I knew I would get through in an hour. Nevertheless, I was able to dig a little deeper on several issues.?
A Personal Journey
The book, the result of period of research and writing that lasted more than six years, was triggered by the prospect Donald Trump might win the presidential election, with the blessing of the Republican Party. It was a prospect that generated fear in anyone remotely aware of the warning signs of fascist tendencies. Martin, the son of Jewish refugees who met in London after fleeing European countries threatened by Hitler and the Nazis is not paranoid, but he is very alert to the signals. And it makes this book far more personal than those he wrote previously. He also sees recent events in several countries as attacks on liberal democracy which he strongly believes in. The events also conflict with the values he cherishes. He dedicates the book his grandchildren with a hope “their generation do a better job than mine has,” in defending liberal democracy.?
The Most Profound Treason
Martin offers scathing criticism of both Trump and the Republican Party, comparing their tactics directly to those of Hitler and the Nazis in one crucial respect, which he regards as “the most profound treason.” He is referring to their belief that it is perfectly legitimate to embrace a big lie to increase their chances of winning an election. He stressed, “and the lie is big,” claiming to have won an election they know they had lost.
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He explains, such an act “subverts the validity of elections, because if you start saying we didn’t lose, that is not a democracy.” He adds, “the embrace of the big lie, and allowing the leader to define what truth is, that’s absolutely core fascist ideology.” He concludes that in supporting Trump in this way, “the Republican Party is no longer a democratic party” in his opinion.
Martin also observes the same tactics are being used by the leaders in several other countries. Most obviously, they were the tactics of Bolsonaro in his bid to seek re-election as President of Brazil. Like Trump, he demonstrated no respect for the democratic process, refusing to ensure the peaceful handover of power to a successor by being absent from the inauguration, and inflaming violence instead.
Elites Are to Blame
The ‘elites’ deserve the blame for creating the conditions in which leaders with authoritarian tendencies have been elected, says Martin. They have allowed the capture and corruption of democratic capitalism. I suggested to Martin that they are using the oldest, most simple, and most highly effective tactic to gain and maintain power, ‘divide and rule.’ He agreed. But, this being the case, there is a solution.? CONTINUE READING ON THE ENLIGHTENED ENTERPRISE ACADEMY HUB
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1 年I would have to read the book to give a closer opinion, since what I have read reflects an appreciation for authoritarian management and non-acceptance of the result of an election. I think in this sense that there is a combination of issues between: democracy, capitalism and interests. Thus, for example, if a party or a candidate has certain interests and combines them with the interests or needs of the population, they seek to convince. - Here the word democracy also comes into play, that if it is lived in essence, the population chooses what type of system among those proposed by the political parties suits the majority, although already in the execution great differences may appear and, if the the population does not see it as convenient, they could change for another, with a new hope (in theory). And the management style would be the way in which the personality, the culture and the preparation of the director to follow a path towards those interests are lived. Of course the populations expect a democratic, fair, and peaceful sense.
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1 年Dont know where to start since the article talks about Mr. Wols's journey through Europe and his survival lessons being an immigrant and fleeing Germany I would start with this-I am Armenian who fled Communism & my GrandDad was buried in a mass grave by commies. The fact that he is pointing fingers at so-called Elites for "allowing the capture and consumption of democratic capitalism" validates my point. The exeptimentcalled USA is the fee will of the people, the working class, the middle class (after it is created and protected). There was no middle class in communism no elections (well fixed) and the voice of the people was muted, suppressed voided.The reason millions emigrated to this free land was fleeing the the oppression of Kings and Taxation, Elitism and prefferentil treatment, with no elites and no castes. Since when the self proclaimed Blue Bloods dicating lives of the "Arbeiterklasse". Don't point fingers -try to protect the very taxpayer paying ur salary at that University charging $65k/annual tuition. Very similar to the German/ Soviet Society only a few get to make the decisions for the masses. Mr Wolf needs to go back to his old highlighted chapters in the Marxes "Das Kapital" memory refreshing-don't repeat history
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1 年While I am no fan of Trump, I wonder what Martin Wolf would say about Trump challenging the NATO members to live up to their commitments to finance NATO, which none of their were doing. He went on to say the NATO members, particularly Germany, were becoming too dependent on Russian gas. Was that being a fascists? Certainly the EU leaders rolled they eyes and generally hated him. They would love a book that called Trump a fascist. However, history has shown Trump was correct. Let's tone down the rhetoric and focus on facts, on both sides of liberal, conservative aisle.