Radical thoughts about our future

20 November 2009 University, Newcastle

Publication title: What is radical politics today?
Author: Dr Jonathan Pugh
Publication type: Book (Paperback)
ISBN number: 9780230236264

In the wake of financial crisis and political confusion, what are the radical political alternatives to the status quo and are those behind them up to the challenge?

These are the questions being posed by Dr Jonathan Pugh, Newcastle University, who has brought together thirty leading political commentators to create a new book What is radical politics today? officially launched by the British Council in London next week (25 November 2009).

The idea for the book emerged from a conversation between Dr Pugh and former cabinet minister Tony Benn in August 2007. While they questioned what radical politics today actually meant, Dr Pugh realised that, through his Spaces of Democracy network, he had access to high profile people in institutions across the world who would be able to offer their views on the current situation, and the concept for the book was born.

“We look to radical politics to provide an alternative view of the world, when that world is in crisis,” explained Dr Pugh. “During the 1970s, a decade defined by inflation, increased accumulation of capital, unemployment and a variety of fiscal crises, neo-liberal capitalism was once a radical alternative to the world’s problems.

“Margaret Thatcher’s neo-liberal approach beat the other main radical contender at the time, socialism, in apparently getting to the root of the problem, overturning it, and redefining how society functions.

“Now neo-liberalism has governed our lives for nearly thirty years. Many feel that its right-wing ethos of deregulation, privatisation and liberation of corporate power has not only failed the world’s financial systems, but more fundamentally degraded the environment and the social fabric of life.”

Dr Pugh suggests that the recent economic crisis has led many of us to reflect on not only how the economy is managed, but also the environment and society as a whole.

But he believes that we should be going much further, raising more difficult questions. “Despite bailing out an incredibly inefficient private sector banking industry to the tune of $15 trillion dollars globally, the public is not demanding much in return for its investment,” he said. “This figure amounts to $2000 for every person on the planet, money which could be used to address global poverty, the environmental crisis, or boost industry.

“The part-nationalisation of banks could have been part of a broader radical plan to inject money into projects for the public good.”

Although acknowledging that some of his book’s contributors would disagree, one of his personal concerns is the lack of a viable alternative to the political status quo. “For many people ‘being radical’ has been reduced to merely living more ethical lifestyles, which, though worthwhile, does not provide an effective challenge to neo-liberalism,” he said. “Blogs and Live 8 protests are not going to change the world.”

Instead, Dr Pugh believes that the radical Left needs to re-engage with party politics rather than exist on the fringes.

“When push came to shove in this recent crisis, the public turned to the government for help,” he explained. “If radicals want to do something really radical, they need to think seriously about re-engaging with the state, not simply protesting from ‘outside’ the system.”

He says that while there is much to despair at in our current situation, there is also an underlying sense of hope and anticipation.

Specific events such as the symbolic and historic election of Barack Obama, changing international relations in the Middle East and China’s rising power are all contributing to a feeling that change is in the air.

“Before we get too excited though, the ‘revolution’ is not coming anytime soon,” warned Dr Pugh. “As yet, no grand alternative ideology or movement of the masses is waiting in the wings, ready to seize the opportunity.”

Despite this, What is radical politics today? offers a range thought-provoking and often challenging opinions on the radical alternatives on offer at this historical moment.