Dossiers
Today, the compromises that once allowed democracy to coexist with a well-regulated capitalism no longer seem to work. On the contrary, politics is becoming increasingly incapable of offering effective responses to the dissatisfaction and marginalization felt by large segments of the population — the old middle class, precarious and underpaid workers — while capitalist developments, beginning with the new digital economy, are deepening inequality, concentrating wealth and power to a remarkable degree, and showing signs of a retreat from territorial roots. This process of patrimonialization and neo-feudalization combines with autocratic tendencies in political power. The phenomenon is particularly evident in the United States, but it is far from unknown elsewhere, in countries both small (such as Hungary) and large (such as Russia). How should we rethink the relationship between capitalism and democracy? Can liberal democracy survive in an age of stagnation and widening inequality? What held the welfare state and the free market together in the postwar years—was it a unique historical interlude or a model that can be replicated? Has globalization now made the mechanisms of financial capitalism incompatible with national democratic processes? Are liberal elites to blame for failing to manage the economic transformations—globalization, offshoring, automation—that have fueled populism and authoritarianism? And is it still possible to correct course within the existing system, or does the moment demand a radical reconfiguration—and if so, how?
  • The economic crisis will make George W. Bush’s successor’s job even more difficult. In such difficult times, Obama stands out as a safe and serene power, but the elections have not yet taken place. “The factor of race, obliquely if inconsistently revived by McCain’s camp – writes Andrew Arato – may still reappear in some unexpected form”. Two different visions of the nation and of the world, and even of religion oppose each other. “Will Obama disappoint us?” wonders John Judis looking to the future. And is America at last ready to elect a black candidate to the White House?
  • What has happened to Egypt’s democratisation? After a few minor concessions, the regime is once again closing any real space in the political arena to the opposition, whose only voice today seems that of bloggers. The price of essential food has risen by 60%, a blow to 40% of the population obliged to survive on less than one dollar a day. Further damage to the country’s image came when the Foreign Minister triumphantly announced in New York the release of the eleven tourists kidnapped in the desert, who instead were held hostage for another week. Would change not be good for such a country?
  • Non-violence as the answer to violence. Dialogue as the antidote for clashes between civilisations. And: listen, learn and lead. How modern are Mahatma Gandhi’s lessons? This was discussed by Iranian philosopher Ramin Jahanbegloo expressing his thoughts in the video-chat room on the Avoicomunare.it website, launched by Telecom coinciding with its successful advertising campaign based on Gandhi. “I believe in his dream of One World – said Jahanbegloo, whose book entitled Reading Gandhi in Teheran is about to be published in Italy (Marsilio, I Libri di Reset) – But this means that the world belongs to us and we must all assume responsibility for it”.
  • They leave their whole lives behind, risking their lives on journeys that at times are with no return. Those who succeed, wander around our cities without a name, exploited by ruthless entrepreneurs and labelled as enemies by populist politicians. Public opinion recently learned off yet another massacre off the coast of Malta. Illegal immigrants have however played a leading role in some of the saddest stories of this Italian summer; a man killed while travelling under an articulated lorry, another arrested after reporting a crime. The victims of poverty and fear, these are the new marginalised people, the pariahs of the West.
  • Since the war ended in 1995 Bosnia no longer makes the headlines. Kosovo has stolen the centre-stage. But Sarajevo may soon return to be in the news. The central government has limited power, the country has serious economic problems and ethnic divisions are also reflected in the existence of two different states that are totally separate: the Srpska Republic (with a Serb majority) and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Croatians and Muslims coexist. The Serbs threaten independence and look to Belgrade. "But Bosnia will live” , as Wolfgang Petritsch, the International Community’s former High Representative for Bosnia explains to Resetdoc.org. This time Europe will have to pay attention and not be taken by surprise.
  • The Irish rejection of the Lisbon treaty has resulted in the reappearance of profound pessimism. Political Europe is obliged once again to call a halt. The cliché states that Europe is distant from its citizens, that it no longer has the mission or the spirit of its founding fathers. If however one looks outside the continent, one observes that the EU project has become a model for many, from the Arab world to Africa and all the way to South East Asia. The citizens of the Old Continent often take the EU for granted and not many would be ready to state that they are proud to be Europeans. Philosopher Tzvetan Todorov is however one of them and he explains why to Resetdoc.
  • “We need a communications strategy emphasising above all the image of a moderate Islam”, as the new President of the French Muslims, Mohammed Moussaoui, told Resetdoc. Moussaoui presents himself as an enlightened and polyglot Muslim, but he too appears to represent an Islam “imposed from above”. Relations between Islam and Europe continue to be marked by misunderstandings, timid steps forward and ambiguity. As proved by the French example, representative bodies are all too often “managed” by the State, and their internal level of democracy leaves a great deal to be desired. What is happening as far as the integration of European Muslims is concerned? Who represents them?
  • The arrival of Arab satellite channels is changing the world of global communication. Now that Al Jazeera too has an English language channel, world markets are enriched by another point of view. The Americans, the English, the French, the Russians, the Arabs and the Germans, all have at least one channel dedicated to global viewers. With increased competition is has become increasingly hard to hide the truth, but there is also the risk that the battle will be fought above all playing on sensationalism, feelings and prejudices. After all, an enemy always increases the ratings. Ideas and thoughts for avoiding a media clash of civilisations.
  • Kenya, Kansas, Indonesia, Hawaii. The biography of Democratic candidate for the White House, Barack Obama is unique. Young, black, well-educated, open and an optimist, the Illinois Senator portrays everything that is the opposite of America’s last eight years. He represents the America we have always loved, and, for this reason too, Europe and world are rooting for him in the November presidential elections. But is America ready to elect its best son? What will be the most important issues addressed in the campaign opposing the Republican candidate John McCain?
  • The Turkish Constitutional Court has rejected a law allowing women to wear the Islamic veil in universities. According to sociologist Nilüfer Göle, a guest at Resetdoc’s Istanbul Seminars, this is “a way of confiscating democracy and public debate in the name of legalism”. Now the judges themselves could decide to outlaw the moderate Islamic party, the AKP, as well as its most important leaders (among them Premier Erdogan and the President of the Republic Gül), accused of attacking the country’s laicity. Is democracy at risk in Turkey? Europe and the Arab world are watching. Some, perhaps, are hoping for chaos.
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