Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
June 2010
No 12
ISSN 1422-8831
Current Concerns
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E-Mail: CurrentConcerns@zeit-fragen.ch
Website: www.currentconcerns.ch The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility,
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English Edition of Zeit-Fragen
17
ty, talented with reason, common sense and tries, especially the least developed countries. Countries must have the necessary flex- did in this crisis), but developing coun-
conscience to meet each other in the spirit of We underscore that developing countries ibility to implement countercyclical tries are forced to follow pro-cyclical
fraternity – this understanding of the basis should not be unduly financially burdened by measures and to pursue tailored and targeted policies (cutting expenditures, raising
of human coexistence has started its trium- the crisis and its impacts. responses to the crisis. We call for a stream- taxes and interest rates), fluctuations
phal march across the world. The sooner we lining of conditionalities to ensure that they in developing countries are larger than
15
understand and implement this philosophy, Developing countries facing an acute are timely, tailored and targeted and support they otherwise would be, while those
the earlier we will be able to develop solu- and severe shortage of foreign reserves developing countries in the face of financial, in developed countries are smaller. This
tions corresponding to the above-mentioned because of the fallout of the crisis, which is economic and development challenges. In this raises the cost of capital to the devel-
requirements. In this sense the discussion in- negatively affecting their balance-of-payment context we note the recent improvement of the oping countries relative to that facing
itiated by Miguel Escoto Brockmann, Joseph situation, should not be denied the right to use lending framework of the International Mone- developed countries, increasing the
Stiglitz and many others will be taken up legitimate trade defence measures in accord- tary Fund (IMF), through inter alia, modern- latter‘s advantage over the former.”
again in the following reprint of the second ance with relevant provisions of the World izing conditionality, and the creation of more Joseph E. Stiglitz, Freefall, p. 222
part of the resolution and should give an im- Trade Organization (WTO), and, as a last re- flexible instruments, such as a flexible cred-
pulse for further reflection. We will publish sort, impose temporary capital restrictions it line, as a welcome step. New and ongoing
the third and last part of the resolution in the and seek to negotiate agreements on tem- programmes should not contain unwarranted of long-term economic growth and develop-
next edition of Current Concerns. porary debt standstills between debtors and procyclical conditionalities. We call upon the ment. We also commit ourselves to acceler-
creditors, in order to help mitigate the adverse multilateral development banks to move for- ating our collective recovery from the crisis
impacts of the crisis and stabilize macroeco- ward on flexible, concessional, fast-disburs- through improved transparency, eradication
Lines of action – nomic developments. ing and front-loaded assistance designed to of corruption and strengthened governance.
make the stimulus work for all In this regard, we urge all States that have
not done so to consider ratifying or acced-
“The United Nations General Assembly, In matters of global economic govern-
12 In attempting to combat the immedi-
ate impacts of the crisis, there have
already been a number of responses at the
as the world’s only legally constituted
and globally inclusive intergovernmental
ance, the voice of the General Assem-
bly has an additional claim to unique-
ing to the United Nations Convention against
Corruption, and call upon all States parties to
vigorously implement the Convention.
body with a clear mandate on economic ness. Owing to the status of the United
national, regional and international levels.
affairs, has a special and unique role to Nations as the original authority under
While acknowledging those efforts, we en-
courage greater cooperation and coordination
among countries’ fiscal and economic ac-
play in our global deliberations. In part
this is because it offers the only forum in
whose aegis the core institutions of the
current architecture were established,
20 The crisis has disparate impacts across
regions, subregions and countries.
These heterogeneous impacts have added
which all nations are free to speak and and to the role of the General Assembly
tions. Support for development is an essential complexity to our common goal of eradicat-
engage on the basis of sovereign equal- in particular as its Carter-defined delib-
and integral part of the solution to the global ing poverty, reducing inequality and promot-
ity, and therefore the only forum where erative and constitutive organ, the UN
crisis, inter alia, through actions aimed at en- ing human development. Given the sensitiv-
those whose voices are least represented GA is arguably the most important and
hancing sustained economic growth, pover- ity of regional and subregional institutions to
in the councils of global economic gov- necessary, if not by any means exclusive,
ty eradication and sustainable development. the specific needs of their constituencies, we
ernance have to be heard and accommo- forum for deliberation of global system
We encourage countries, while implementing note the value of regional and subregional co-
dated not as a matter of courtesy but of reform.”
national stimulus measures, to avoid protec- operation efforts in meeting the challenges of
right. Here alone does the voice of the Extract from: Miguel d‘Escoto Brockmann.
tionism in any form and possible adverse im- the global economic crisis and we encourage
Global South ring with equal clarity, and Foreword to the Report of the Commis-
pacts on third countries, particularly develop- enhanced regional and subregional coopera-
here too is where considerations of eq- sion of Experts of the President of the Unit-
ing countries. ed Nations General Assembly on Reforms of tion, for example, through regional and sub-
uity and justice are therefore more like-
the International Monetary and Financial regional development banks, commercial and
ly to be raised.
13 We encourage countries in a position
to do so to utilize the room for fiscal
System on 21 September 2009, p. 10
continued on page 3
June 2010 No 12 Current Concerns Page 3
“Results of the Conference …” date of the Doha Round and the WTO Hong
continued from page 2 Kong Ministerial Declaration; and to meet
existing aid-for-trade pledges. We also reaf-
reserve currency arrangements, and other re- firm the need to make progress on the imple-
gional initiatives, as contributions to the mul- mentation of the WTO work programme on
tilateral response to the current crisis and to small economies, mandated in the Doha Min-
improved resilience to potential future cri- isterial Declaration.3
ses.
Contain the effects of the crisis and
improve future global resilience
27 Migrant workers are among the most
vulnerable in the context of the cur-
rent crisis. Remittances, which are significant
private financial resources for households in
28
of people-centred development and address- the crisis, and a new set of regulations frastructure investment, lower fiscal revenues An effective response to the cur-
ing the human and social impacts of the cri- will be needed to prevent another cri- and balance-of-payment problems. We under- rent economic crisis requires time-
sis. We reaffirm our commitment to the time- sis and restore trust in the banks. In take to resist all protectionist tendencies and ly implementation of existing aid commit-
ly achievement of our internationally agreed some circles, in the run-up to the sec- rectify any protectionist measures already ments. There is an urgent need for all donors
development goals, including the Millennium ond meeting of the G-20 in early 2009, taken. At the same time we recognize the to maintain and deliver on their existing bi-
Development Goals. there was a debate as to whether a right of countries to fully utilize their flexi- lateral and multilateral official development
globally coordinated stimulus or a glo- bilities consistent with their WTO commit- assistance (ODA) commitments and targets
22 Closer cooperation and strong part- bally coordinated regulatory regime ments and obligations. It is important that we made, inter alia, in the United Nations Mil-
nership between the United Nations was more important. The answer is contribute to the efforts of WTO and other lennium Declaration,4 the Monterrey Consen-
development system, regional development obvious: both are necessary. Without relevant bodies to monitor and report on pro- sus5 and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,6
banks and the World Bank and their scaled- comprehensive regulation, there will tectionist measures, including on how they
up efforts can effectively address the needs of be regulatory evasion – finance will go affect developing countries.
those hardest hit and ensure that their plight to the least regulated country.” “Free market ideology turned out to
ing up of development finance from existing degradation and the Global Partner- Goal 8: A global partnership for de-
among children under five.
sources and the establishment, where appro- ship for Development. velopment: Develop further an open,
priate, of new voluntary and innovative sourc- Adopted by world leaders in the Goal 5: Improve maternal health: Re- rule-based, predictable, non-discrim-
es of financing initiatives to provide addi- year 2000 and set to be achieved by duce by three quarters the maternal inatory trading and financial system.
tional stable sources of development finance, 2015, the MDGs are both global and mortality ratio. Achieve, by 2015, uni- Address the special needs of the least
which should supplement and not be a sub- local, tailored by each country to suit versal access to reproductive health. developed countries. Address the spe-
stitute for traditional sources of finance and cial needs of landlocked developing
specific development needs. Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and
should be disbursed in accordance with the countries and small island developing
priorities of developing countries and not un- other diseases: Halt and begin to re-
Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and States. Deal comprehensively with the
duly burden them. We reiterate our request to verse the spread of HIV/AIDS.Achieve,
hunger: Reduce by half the proportion debt problems of developing coun-
the Secretary-General to produce a progress by 2010, universal access to treatment
of people living on less than a dollar a tries through national and interna-
report by the sixty-fourth session of the Gen- for HIV/AIDS for all those who need it.
day. Achieve full and productive em- tional measures in order to make debt
eral Assembly, taking into account all exist- Halt and begin to reverse the incidence
ing initiatives. ployment and decent work for all, in- sustainable in the long term.
of malaria and other major diseases.
cluding women and young people. Re-
35
terialism dominates moral commitment, We recognize that increases in global (Russia), Laura Cardone (Italy), Jan Pelech
anguish and outrage, the many fellow (Czech), Dr. Norbert Rozsenich (Austria),
in which the rapid growth that we have liquidity play a useful role in overcom- citizens around the world who feel as we Andreas Kourakis (Greece), Kristrun He-
achieved is not sustainable environmen- ing the financial crisis. Therefore, we strongly do. We salute those Israelis who coura- imisdáttir (Iceland), Eva Rizea (Romenia),
tally or socially, in which we do not act support and call for early implementation of geously object to the dangerous policies Dr Tanja Gorakova (Slovakia), Damir Hajric
together as a community to address our the new general special drawing right (SDR) of their government and who condemn (Bosnia & Herzegowina), Professor Dr S. de
common needs, partly because rugged allocation of $250 billion. We also call for the recent attacks against the flotilla of Henauw (Belgium), Anita Campo (Estonia)
individualism and market fundamental- the urgent ratification of the fourth amend-
ism have eroded any sense of communi- ment to the IMF Articles of Agreement for a
ty and have led to rampant exploitation special one-time allocation of SDRs, as ap- ****
of unwary and unprotected individuals proved by the IMF Board of Governors in When year after year promises are not fulfilled, when instead demographic clean-
and to an increasing social divide. There September 1997. We recognize the need for sing is the order of the day, when symptoms become the pretence for force and
has been an erosion of trust – and not keeping under review the allocation of SDRs causes are ignored, when military action replaces peaceful dialogue, when honesty
just in our financial institutions. It is not for development purposes. We also recognize becomes travesty, there comes a time when the outcry of ordinary citizens no long-
too late to close these fissures.” the potential of expanded SDRs to help in- er remains a whisper but becomes a crescendo. This time has come.
Joseph E. Stiglitz, Freefall, p. 275/276 crease global liquidity in response to the ur- Hans von Sponeck, Former United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, June 2010
gent financial shortfalls caused by this crisis
June 2010 No 12 Current Concerns Page 5
“The future depends on ourselves, and we cial establishments’ accounts and use them an open society. However, the question re-
do not depend on any historical necessity.” for the repayment of national debts? mains whether goal this was at all realized. The parties’ policy monopoly is
Do the current resolutions concerning the Karl Raimund Popper, who after World
Karl Raimund Popper, “assistance for Greece” actually mean any- War II emigrated from Austria and never re-
nothing but oligarchy dominat-
The open society and its enemies thing else but securing the transfer of billions turned to the German speaking countries, ing the people
of Euros to the financial establishments? was the philosopher the West German par- “The actual policy monopoly of the
While the citizens are being increasingly del- Fact is that the majority of the Germans re- ties most frequently quoted in the years of the parties’ oligarchy is not a ‘formation
uged with ever more bad news on the con- ject the respective resolutions. A poll of May Cold War following 1945. They did so partic- of the political will of the people’, in
dition of the EU financial order and the fu- 2010, published by one of the big broadcast- ularly with reference to his well-known work which ‘the political parties shall partic-
ture value of the EU currency, a remarkable ing corporations in Germany on 30 April re- “The Open Society and its Enemies” (7th edi- ipate’ (article 21 of the Basic Law (GG)
lack of discussion about political proceedings vealed that the majority of the Germans had tion 2002, ISBN: 978-0415282369), for the on the task of political parties), but
can be observed. That is no good; because the only “little sympathy for the assistance for first time published in two volumes in 1945. the dominance of an oligarchy over the
present crisis does not only reveal very poor Greece”. But where are we at today? people. To legitimize this will force us
fiscal competences, but also a very doubt- However, the German administration again It is a very serious question whether reu- to reduce the general freedom of the
ful political development. We might give it a passes by the will of the population paying nited Germany has become a closed socie- citizens political activity to form their
common denominator, i.e. “abusing the crisis merely lip service, as it did before with re- ty instead. Didn’t the leading political class will autonomously – protected by art.
to weaken national sovereignty and to further gard to other important issues (like the intro- commit itself to a neo-social Darwinist form 2 par. 1 GG – to the general freedom
dismantle democracy”. duction of the Euro, the Lisbon Treaty, the of capitalism and a centralistic oriented party of action of the subjects in a liberalis-
This abuse is shown, for example, in Afghanistan employment of the German Fed- rule with elitist attitudes, following the neo- tic sense. […]
• openly announcing the intention to place eral Armed Forces). conservative ideology of an “end of histo- Those who interpret the constitu-
states of the EU under the tutelage of the Nevertheless, the German government and ry”? That means they are committed to a rule tion are by no means entitled to put
EU bureaucracy and IWF, German politicians would be well advised to of only a few, since less than 4 per cent of freedom and the republic at the mercy
• constantly using the expression “the only think about whether the failure of the govern- the German adults are members of a party, of the parties.”
alternative” (the German chancellor An- ment’s plans for the stabilization of the Euro, today. Karl Albrecht Schachtschneider.
gela Merkel uses exactly these words) in looming at the horizon, may have something Doesn’t this political class try to prevent an Res publica res populi, p. 594f.
German policies to justify very doubtful to do with a general loss of confidence in the open society – a society, which is character-
political decisions, administration’s decisions. Citizens are no ized by real freedom of opinion and discus-
• steamrollering “special (express) laws” longer convinced that the German politicians sion, by a social structure of equal citizens,
with unforeseeable consequences, which act honestly, oriented towards the necessities without an elitist rule, without dogmas; a so-
remind of the emergency decrees at the and the public interest. ciety, that encourages people’s criticism, that
end of the Weimar Republic – particularly For many years we have been able to ob- is open for correction and change, and also
with respect to their political contents. serve, that the ground was cut from under open for an actual dismissal of those cling-
Germany’s democratization (cf. Willy ing to the power.
Article 48 of the Weimar Republic’s constitu- Brandt’s demand, “Let’s dare more democ- Isn’t it true that this German political class
tion provided that the President of the Reich racy!”) by an increasing “expertocratiza- is profoundly undemocratic?
“in case the public security and order are tion” and “rule of the elites”. At the latest, Hans Herbert von Arnim completed his
substantially threatened or endangered in the this development began at the end of the six- book “Vom schönen Schein der Demokratie”
German Reich, [he] could take the necessary ties and the beginning of the seventies, when (About the pretty pretence of democracy)
measures to re-establish public security and politics became “scientific” in the context with a prospect of direct democracy: “A new
order”. of the so-called “primacy of political plan- paradigm: More power for the people – more
In the last two and a half years of the Re- ning”. This line of development was howev- control of the political class”. He writes: “Di-
public, the President of the Reich made ex- er by no means “modern”, but correspond- rect democracy opens its own, completely
tensive use of this regulation: not primarily, ed with the German party oligarchy that new world. It throws the dominant system of
because Germany was in a state of extraordi- has been criticized by authors such as Karl thought into disarray and establishes a new
nary emergency (there were, in fact, emergen- Albrecht Schachtschneider* or Hans Herbert paradigm – theoretically and practically. […]
cy situations in many countries of the world, von Arnim** long since. It is a fact that shaking valid ‹dogmas› (which
which were however handled differently and The historical roots of party oligarchy are are also part of the foundation of represent-
better than in Germany). He did so, because not only to be found in the postwar German ative democracy), or dismantling them will
the President of the Reich, Hindenburg, and occupation policy as well. They can also be not be accepted by the high priests and keep-
his surrounding and lobbying circles were found in an unsatisfactory accounting of Ger- ers of the Grail of dogmatism. This explains thus a part of the political influence from the
looking for a cause to let the republic fail and man history and in an unsatisfactory demo- why many representatives of the constitution- former ruling powers.”
use the time to return to an authoritarian state cratic reorientation of the German “elite” al doctrine and other defenders of the ideolo- Today, 10 years after the publication of the
system, a dictatorship or an empire. after the war. gy underlying the ‘Grundgesetz’ (Basic Law) book, these remarks haven’t lost any of their
After Adolf Hitler had been appointed Public announcements cannot obscure the often react quite aggressively to the bare dis- relevance. On the contrary, considering to-
Chancellor of the Reich on 30 January 1933 fact that it was a continuation of that thirst for cussion of relevant questions concerning di- day’s problems and tasks it is obvious that
by the President, he and the NSDAP repealed power and adoration of power (now directed rect democracy; moreover, it explains their going on with this closed society will cer-
the basic laws with the help of a further emer- toward the USA) as well as an adherence to lacking readiness to admit a matter-of-fact tainly lead into the wrong direction. It is high
gency decree in February 1933 (“Reichstag substantial elements of feudalist thinking in discussion and argumentation. The defend- time for the society to open up, to permit real
Fire Decree”). On 23 March 1933, the parlia- a corporative and radically capitalistic state. ers of the status quo engage in fierce rear- discussions, to do away with the past dogmas
ment deprived itself of power with the Ena- And, accompanying these tendencies was guard battles and seek to declare the relevant and work on the structure of a German de-
bling Act, which was euphemistically called a deeply rooted feeling of contempt for the questions a taboo (thus withdrawing from mocracy. Germany must become democrat-
“Law to Remedy the Distress of the People people. A contempt, which had culminated in each discussion), as they always do if dog- ic. •
and the Nation”; it abolished the division of Hitler’s idea of a master race, which was also mas are to be broken open and dogmatism is *
“Res publica res populi. Grundlegung einer Allge-
powers and equipped the government with directed against his own people in the long to be overcome. Thus, they fully agree with meinen Republiklehre. Ein Beitrag zur Freiheits-
quasi-dictatorial authority. run – as one of his last statements showed: the dominant political class. The argument , Rechts- und Staatslehre», 1. Auflage 1994, ISBN
And where are we today? The German people deserves to perish, if it is between representative and direct democracy 978-3428081240
What is going on, if e.g. – upon request not able to control the world. is definitely about power and influence. **
Vom schönen Schein der Demokratie. Politik ohne
– the German Treasury refuses to comment After the Second World War, the West Ger- Direct democracy allows a much better Verantwortung – am Volk vorbei», 2000, ISBN 3-
on news about plans for compulsory loans on man parties, represented in the parliaments, control of the political class and shifts the dis- 426-27204-0; «Das System. Die Machenschaften
German savings? Do such plans exist to for- maintained that from now on they would be tribution of power to the people, i.e. it with- der Macht», 2001, ISBN 3-426-27222-9
cibly transfer trillions of Euros from the cit- determined opponents to totalitarian rule, op- draws the monopoly of political power and Translation Current Concerns
izen’s savings accounts onto the large finan- ponents to a closed society and promoters of
Europäische Arbeitsgemeinschaft