A social alternative to neo-liberalism
The left has been strong in the criticism of the system while it has been weak on presenting alternative blueprints. Coherent and radical programmes are missing from contemporary politics. This article outlines some proposals for a possible alternative.
No. 38 | (Summer 1998)
This issue of Eszmélet addresses on three main topics. First, the analysis of revolution started in the previous issue continues but now focuses on the 20th century. In addition to the revolution in Russia the articles mostly examine the events in Latin America, recalling the memory of Che Guevara many times. Second, the role and fate of the working class in Hungary and other parts of the world in the 20th century history and present day reality. Third, several articles examine the popular myths of neoliberal economic policy, the East European variations of these myths and also presenting possible alternatives to them.
Table of contents
- Thoma László, Szigeti Péter, Bőhm Antal, Tamás Pál, Laki László, Krausz Tamás : Whatever happened to the Hungarian working class?
- Somogyi Csaba : The treatment of unemployment in neo-liberal economic policy
- David Mandel : Revolution, counterrevolution and working class in Russia
- David M. Kotz, Fred Weir : Why did the USSR fail?
- Gyimitrij Csurakov : Workers’ self-management in the Russian revolution
- John McDermott : On the origins of the present world in the defeat of “the 60s”
- Alekszandr Nyikolajevics Taraszov : Students revolts and the media: the analysis of a phenomenon
- Albert Sterr : The three waves of the Latin-American guerilla struggle
- Andor László : US foreign policy from Fulbright to Albright
- William J. Fulbright : Revolution in Latin-America
- Marcos alparancsnok : World War 4 has begun
- Ahmed Ben Bella : My memories of Che
- Szigeti Péter : Reflections on the inheritance of a revolutionary humanist of the 20th century
- Arndt Hopfmann : The future of East Europen capitalism and the European integration
- Márkus Péter : A social alternative to neo-liberalism
Whatever happened to the Hungarian working class?
A round table discussion was organised by Eszmélet and the Left Alternative Association on the structure of contemporary Hungarian society and the living conditions, values, representation and fragmentation of the domestic working class. The participants also presented their views on how social research and politics threats the issue of labour.
The treatment of unemployment in neo-liberal economic policy
In the neoliberal model the most effective cure against unemployment is the flexibility of labour markets. Contemporary neoliberal policy, however, abandons the objective of full employment that used to be among the goals of liberal politics and neoclassical economics until the first half of the 20th century.
Revolution, counterrevolution and working class in Russia
The author compares the role of workers and the labour movement in the 1917 and the 1991 historical periods. In his conclusion he suggests that the contemporary disorganisation and political weakness of the working class is a legacy of the bureaucratic system and a consequence of the selfdestructive reforms of "perestroika". In the long run, he he counts with teh perspective of a strengthening labour movement in Russia.