Saturday, October 20, 2007

Socialists in Europe

Socialists in Europe have to ask themselves. Is socialism possible in Europe? If so, what kind of socialism? And when? If not now or any time soon, what is to be done in the meantime? In their nation, and the European Union? Is their nation to become or remain a member of the European Union? If no, then what? If yes, what kind of Europe? How to get there?

The interval between the No vote on the European Constitution in 2005 and the elections in France this year, more than anything else, showed that the absence of clarity and of vision with regard to the aforementioned questions is a great problem. The defeat of the Left made France itself more Atlanticist -- and it can take Europe even closer than it is to the USA as well, which will be a great setback for the Third World.

We live in an age when populists of the Third World, religious or secular, have a more forward-looking vision1 than European Marxists. That must be rectified, immediately.

1 "Ahmadinejad: Europe Can Save Itself," Press TV, 18 October 2007; Lucian Kim, "Iran, Venezuela Form Oil Venture to Rival Shell, Eni (Update1)," Bloomberg, 18 October 2007; and "Russian and Iranian Presidents' Joint Statement,' ITAR-TASS, 17 October 2007.

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