Mq concentrate on survival. The satellites of the great powers have it tough when the great powers sputters, grinds to a halt and slowly starts rolling back downhill.
The writing was on the wall 15 years ago. But it was disguised! Some smoke and mirrors here, some misinformation campaign there plus some looting thither and the appearances were saved. This is the history of the last 15 years. With the benefit of the hindsight one can prepare for the next 15 years.
The small fry: Canada, Australia and Nez Zeland that gravitate around the US as a great power, they are discovering that is tough to ride the coat tails of an empire in its Gotterdammerung.
NOTE: The days of the the micro state economic power house are over.
QUOTE Elmat circa 1990:
<<BACKLASH AGAINST CONSENSUS
The collapse of the Bretton Woods agreement —on the early seventies— made impossible to maintain a the postwar commitment to full employment, high public spending, managed exchange rates and tolerable inflation. The consensual social democratic which grew with the Bretton Woods isn’t possible to be maintained any longer and the system is crumbling.
The G7, which in the last years have acted more like a currency cartel isn’t that solid it used to be. America has weakened its standing within the alliance due, in part, because of not addressing fiscal problems. President Bush has admitted that the U.S. can no longer impose unity on the fractious allies. “We’re not urging everyone to march in lockstep”. And “We are dealing in an entirely different era” But perhaps Margareth Thatcher best characterized the precedings when she said:
“We are in fact together, but taking a different view.” Businessweek International, Jul. 23, 1990.
The end of the consensus among MDCs is followed by the end of the harmony between the two social partners, capital and labor in these countries.
“The aversion to industry and commerce, temporarily forgotten (even by the left) in the period of economic recovery after the war is now again widespread. The concept of ‘harmony’ , which in the post-war euphoria caused European trade unions’ leaders to put peaceful industrial relations before income redistribution has been abandoned...” Duller, H.J., Development Technology, London, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1971.
“Canadians are deeply unhappy with the way their country is run and are deserting the major parties for regional or single issue groups...Discontent has been fuelled by a sharp deterioration in economic conditions in recent months.” Financial Times, October 30, 1990.
“Sweden’s famous economic model— the envy of the world for more than half a century—is dead...Sweden’s political system is fragmenting. The ruling social democrats govern without a parliamentary majority and the opposition remains divided, more by personalities than policy...Governing Sweden is much more difficult than it used to be. Idem.
A disorderly world economy will most probably lead to turmoil. Right wing parties are getting popular as European countries face economic troubles. The Republikaner in Germany, National Front in France, Italian Social Movement in Italy. Even Sweden has got its right wing party recently. “Denmark has the ludicrous left-right alliance. Its ultra right party made an alliance with the ultra left. This leap from left to right is happening with the Republikaner party in Germany as well. One third of the party’s current voters voted for the liberals SPD. In last year’s European elections the national Front received 11.7% of the vote, the Italian MSI 5%.” Europe’s Extremes , American Enterprise, Jul./Ago, 1990. p.42/43. All these parties are fuelled by a common anti-immigration sentiment which is linked to issues such as unemployment, high taxes and housing.
Blue collars in industrialized countries have to be kept satisfied or they will behave in the same fashion of Argentinian, Mexican or Brazilians. Sweden’s political system is fragmenting. The ruling social democrats govern without a parliamentary majority and the opposition remains divided, more by personalities than policy. Assassination of Olaf Palme is already one indication of latent revolt. Recent attempts against life of German politicians Oscar Lafontaine and interior Minister Schäuble in Germany and Quebec trying to breakout of Canada are other evidences of developed countries’ end of the consensual social democratic system.
Perhaps we are seeing the end of an era. The British refusal of the poll tax dropped Thatcher’s government. German cost of reunification is proving bigger than planned. This is the end of the small developed country. Those economic power houses have run out of the steam.
That was 15 years ago. Nothing was done by the leadership of yours and other small countries. No mass migration. No embrabcing -should I paraphrase Jay?- of THE FORCE.
I think you just run now! :-) |
