Radical European Politics or New Colonialism?

: Bogdana Koljevic , 13 2013 18:20

To what extent has EU become a par excellence example of cancellation of rationality, equality and freedom has been extensively analyzed by Habermas, most notably in his work The Crisis of the European Union. Here the thesis about different aspects of democratic deficit, as well as the qualification that the Union has stepped into a post-democratic era, is convincingly elaborated. Drawing the key argument about monopolization of the European project by self-proclaimed elites that has produced bureaucratization and moving away from European citizens Habermas, however, concludes that a systemic turn is necessary for the future of the Union i.e. that one should not give up on this cause of European unification for that would mean departure from participation in world history. [1]

European realities , however, today are, as it seems, much closer to Grays diagnosis that if architects have imagined the EU as a new world model, current dogma refers to the opposite turn. [2] This means that mythologization of the EUhas conditioned its appearance as the counterexampl e i.e. as anti-m odel but simultaneously that new differentiation , first of all on social , and then on national basis, has brought closes the contemporary condition to Balibarsradical insight that Europe is a dead political project, because some countries are dominant while others are dominated. [3] Such turn is, above all, a natural and logical consequence of the fact that what has essentially been excluded from the official EU discourses and practices are precisely the national moment and the social moment. This further means the following: (1) the gap between EUs crypto-political elites and

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Radical European Politics or New Colonialism?

: Bogdana Koljevic , 13 2013 18:20

the people has dramatically grown in last few years (2) this gap signified the deepening of social and economic inequalities because of which class has again appeared as a relevant political name (3) the result of the national question being treated in accordance with mainstream neoliberal or postmodern discourses as either fascistic or anachronic, is that nationalism via patriotism is practically back on front doors.

Or, more precisely, the fact that radical politics of left and right are, let us say, newborn and blossoming, is caused by EUs elite choice of its own theoretical and political paradigm i.e. choice of concepts which were meant to wither away both left and right, creating a contradicio in adjecto :a political community without political subjectivity . How these processes historically unfolded in the so-called third way politics and self-proclaimed social-democracy and through an empty formula proclaiming the path beyond right and left, has been articulated by Mouffe, while Coopers Breaking of Nations appears as an irreplaceable example of plea for post-national post-modern political order that the EU was conceptualized to represent. The bottom line, therefore, is that the EU has been built as a political simulacrum i.e. that its both left and right politics were formulated to imitate both of them and that the source of this action is, for the most part, found in Alis statement that Europe has been the prisoner of Atlantism a situation that has also produced weakening of critical thinking and lack of (political and other) imagination.

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Radical European Politics or New Colonialism?

: Bogdana Koljevic , 13 2013 18:20

have In crisis such brought and way, gradual, first the decades growth yet systemic ofof theturn 21 century ofEurope global euro-skepticism discourses with spreading inwritten of theoretical economic, and political practical and sense social euro-realism and . The EU crisis appeared as of the political as political participation democracy in practically all its aspects and political subjectivity , which is to say, in the light of crisis of legitimization of the European project per se . In his article Nationalism Returns in Gvozdev has that radical right parties are becoming mainstream political actors and that sentiments about our dignity and our state echo in European countries. [4] Greek just aspirations some Golden examples to Dawn, of this Hungarian movement Movement which can for also better be Hungary, traced on French the level National of strengthening Front are of leave the EU i.e. Union accompanied three class appears dignity, turning through whose aspects and into while as slightly a anger, the interests the specific by of fact return growth enlargement more as that appeal a are of political than while of radical not separatist half for interests practically of emotion egalitarianism politics repressive of Germans movements of are half the and caused of people. wish i.e. British control (Catalonia, equality to by Relevance stay. population crypto-elites, mechanisms Simultaneously, and Scotland, justice, of wishes social dominating reciprocally but Belgium), to and likewise these step national as out risk processes for a and of fear particular issues national the allcrisis are par excellence The birth of contemporary critical European discourses of left and right, in between series of discrepancies between official politics of the Union and life in this European way, is states exemplified i.e. EU dogma and opean realities Eur . European European political This makes politics politics Ash speak and nor world European of non-functional market, public and enables sphere, European his for conclusion triangle, the only constant composed that there becomes of is national no more Euroepan politics, Rashomon. In shape a similar of fashion, Sambanis articulated that the European crisis is more and more taking the identity -of ethnic conflict, and that for this reason it is practically certain that what is at stake is the end one form of European project .[5] These progressive finds as investigations project and, disclose moreover, that the that Union itif unveils no longer itself as has a the conception image of which an alternative the new century or passe between is places interrelate easier of to north potential on imagine the in and level greatest conflict a south potential of actions degree. are is based a conflict testimony of In in agreement then social of closer a and gap with national alliance. Sambanis, has differentiation, It is become of we particular can so say and huge significance that that that the these currently gap that the it structures trans-national Euro-Atlantic imperial , on the one hand, domestic elites other, and majority of people on decisively contemporary the third about side. processes the These future are occurring of key the reasons Union on European for but which they grounds. indisputably itwhich would irresponsible signify the to perplexity claim anything of The question for us is now the following: the rise of radical politics the movement of the Union towards , reversely, speaks about structural differentiation , then where is the place for and/or place for here? states Or, and if people, has become is it perhaps, clear that seemingly we can no paradoxically, longer refer to the the case EU that as to potentials the alliance for of equal democracy and political subjectivity appear precisely in such a situation? debates Because, order reverse opened, When is...exchange surrender in even processes, its and if itself historical, the Sen informed it of is to logic democratic writes proportional unilateral will of political consent that European end perhaps differently? understandings obligations and to of participation its integration cultural citizens the For with most sense, now, financial has of or problematic citizens good however, is brought it plausible dictates, intentions i.e. into such aspect to question subjectivation to and an claim of of objective that current experts, the that Europe value contemporary European and possibility without cannot re-politization. of democratic public disease is other [6] , itshow appears that issues of democracy and cal subjectivity politi with birth of contemporary European discourses, themselves in a most serious way. But, if such presuppositions for rise of true democracy a potentiality i.e. with a are manifested, we are still dealing with possibility opposed to another possibility , the alternative of new colonialism. Here its elites, we can and turn majority to Ash, of who people, argues who that demonstrated in the 1990s great it has loyalty been to precisely European West integration... Germany i.e. [7] What countries own interests can have we conclude as not, well? and from that, the partially, insight their that the rescue Germans of southern demonstrated states always prudence counts which on their [8] more and more of Ash reminds contrary to Thomas Mann words today we see Germanys Europe and less of European Germany .

In for states. and the national fact other its meaning that degree rethink own With words, it precisely is! interests, this of all of appears its differences Germany Genschers along loyalty cities so the in that as towards a has lines Athens, acknowledged, new saying its appeared overall of light. this multi-level that Madrid project Moreover, growth the as one or the more domination politically Lisbon comes key can there our actor recall forth foreign is corresponded as much of of here as Germany project politics apolitical Hegelian consequence of is in to European and European, Europe.In the master-slave moral level offaith fall integrations of irony the such its of more dialectic, other concern in sense, the f polis least in minimal sense, there is -es in which the that, at ormal equality of all EU member states , if not a serious conviction of essentially equality of different nations have become live examples of greatest inequalities and injustice. On the other hand, it is indisputable that there exists a historical basis to the fact that the becoming indignados of are a in larger reality number standing of European up against countries and that, rising against politicians and bankars they EU crypto-elites and therefore appearing as heralds of new political subjectivity true democracy . To what extent will we see an affirmation of theses that these processes will be shaped around rans-national strikes , dealing as potential with a key new movements of mass European protests which would mean that we are class struggle [9] or rather a different theses that national issues will be decisive will depend on various circumstances which cannot be calculated since they, by their concept, belong the category of the event per se But, for the time being, one should trace the birth, logics and growth of contemporary critical European discourses keeping appear to in be. mind that it is not rare, even inThe terms of economics that things are not as what they,t ( presentation at the XXIII World Congress of Philosophy, August 4, ) 2012. 2 . 08 03. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] 012. Habermas, Grey, Balibar, Gvosdev, Sambanis, Sen, Ash, Ibid.p.8. Wagenknecht Tooze, T.G. A. J. The E. Why A. N. The Europe N. Germanys J., Nationalism Crisis Has Europe Fr , Crisis S. The einen of Europe is of a European is Unsustainable Dead Strike Europe, floundering, Kurswechsel Returns Failed?, Political into Democracy, Southern Foreign in Europe, The Project, Growth, in der New Affairs Guardian Europe, Europapolitik The The York The Foreign , September/October New National ,Times Guardian, Global October York Affairs , Research August Frankfurter Interest Times 17 June ,Athens September/October 2012. 26 ,6 Online May , 2012.p.4. 2010. 2012. November Allgemeine 22 , November 2012. 12 Zeitung 2012. 5

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