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Kolumn om Hillary och den politiska dynamiken
När Hillary kom till Tällberg för att delta i en Tällberg Workshop år 1991
var det också för att besöka detta lilla udda land Sverige. Hon hade fångats av
den svenska modellens förmåga att förena marknadsekonomi med demokratiska
värderingar. Modellen bygger ju ytterst på de värderingar som formade den
franska revolutionen och den amerikanska. Hon såg likheterna.
Vid den tiden, innan Bill Clinton hade vunnit presidentvalet 1992, vill jag
hävda att Hillarys syn på politikens roll i samhällsutvecklingen låg närmre
senator Bernie Sanders än vad hon själv givit uttryck för i den
nomineringsstrid som hon nu har vunnit.
Hillary har med andra ord förflyttat sig högerut. Sanders intog den plats
på politikskalan som hon sett sig tvungen att överge för att vinna ett
nationellt val, i en tid när politikens epicentrum stadigt förflyttas högerut.
Det nya "mitten" är långt mer nationalistiskt och kapitalistiskt än
tidigare. Denna utveckling ser vi tydligt både i USA men också i Europa och här
i Sverige. Vi lever i en epok där det individualistiska vinner över det
kollektivistiska och solidariska.
Denna utveckling gäller inte bara i fördelningspolitiken. Den påverkar
också säkerhetspolitiken. EU och NATO bär syn för sägen. Turkiet anser sig inte
behöva dessa allianser. Erdoğan ångar på i sin revanschistiska politik som om
internationella måttstockar och ideal inte längre gäller. Respekten för de
säkerhetsorganisationer som byggdes upp under efterkrigstiden spelar idag
tynande roller. Trump och stora delar av den amerikanska opinionen motsätter
sig USA's nyckelroll i det globala säkerhetspusslet. Detta förändrar i grunden
det internationella systemets tänkta funktion. Även om Hillary Clinton vinner
är den amerikanska opinionen djupt delad om USA's roll i världen.
Hillary kom till Sverige för att studera arbetsmarknad, facklig samverkan,
utbildningspolitik, jämställdhetspolitisk och inte minst barnens plats och roll
i samhället. Hon ägnade faktiskt den första hälften av sitt tal till det
demokratiska konventet i Philadelphia till dessa frågor. Om hon skulle vinna
valet i november blir hon också en symbol för kvinnors och barns förändrade
ställning och roller i samhällsutvecklingen. Hon skrev i början av 1990-talet en
bok, värd att läsa: "It takes a village to raise a child". Hon talade
i den boken om gemenskapens avgörande betydelse för att skapa medborgare som
bygger stabila och pålitliga samhällen.
Hillary Clinton ser också med förfäran på hur de allra rikaste snor åt sig
allt större delar av den gemensamma kakan. Så sker också här i Sverige. Det är
ju fullständigt barockt att en verkställande direktör i Ericsson får en
ersättning på 62 MSEK och sedan som avgångsvederlag 28 MSEK.
Uppenbarligen fungerar inte den hyllade marknadsekonomin som den bör. De
sociala motsättningarna och därmed konflikterna ökar.
Bo Ekman 2016-07-31
English translation:
Column on Hillary and the political dynamics
When Hillary Clinton came to Tällberg in 1991 to participate in a Tällberg Workshop, she also wanted to learn about this small, odd country of Sweden. She had been captured by the so called “Swedish model” - the ability to combine market economy with democratic values. This model is based on the same values that were the basis of the French Revolution - and the American. She saw the similarities.
At that time, before Bill Clinton had won the presidential election in 1992, I would argue that Hillary's views on the role of politics in social development was closer to Senator Bernie Sanders than what she has expressed in the nomination battle that she has now won.
In other words, Hillary has moved to the right. Sanders took the political position that she was forced to abandon in order to win a national election, at a time when the political epicenter steadily moves rightward. The new "middle-of-the-road" is far more nationalistic and capitalistic than it used to be. We can see clearly this development in the US, but also in Europe and here in Sweden. We live in an era where the individualistic wins over the collectivistic and over solidarity.
This development is applicable not only in allocation policy. It also affects security policy. EU and NATO are examples of this. Turkey regards themselves not needing any of these alliances. Erdoğan moves on with his revanchist politics as if international rules of law and ideals no longer apply. Respect for the security organizations that were built up during the postwar years is today weakening. Trump and large part of the American public opinion opposes the US's key role in the global security puzzle. This fundamentally changes the foundation of the international system as it was intended to function. Even if Hillary Clinton wins the election, the American public opinion is still divided about the role of the US in the world.
Hillary came to Sweden to study our labor market, trade union cooperation, education and gender equality policy, and not least the place and role of children in our society. In fact, she devoted the first half of her speech to the Democratic convention in Philadelphia to these issues. If she were to win the election in November, she is also a symbol of women's and children's changing status and roles in society. In the early 1990s, she wrote a book worth reading: "It takes a village to raise a child". In this book she speaks about the importance of togetherness and “the common good” to create citizens who can build stable and reliable communities.
Hillary Clinton also looks with horror on how the richest grab ever larger parts of the common cake. That is what happens also here in Sweden. It is completely insane that the CEO of Ericsson gets a compensation of 62 million SEK and then, as severance pay, 28 million SEK.
Obviously the acclaimed market economy does not work as it should. The consequence is that social tension and conflicts increase.
When Hillary Clinton came to Tällberg in 1991 to participate in a Tällberg Workshop, she also wanted to learn about this small, odd country of Sweden. She had been captured by the so called “Swedish model” - the ability to combine market economy with democratic values. This model is based on the same values that were the basis of the French Revolution - and the American. She saw the similarities.
At that time, before Bill Clinton had won the presidential election in 1992, I would argue that Hillary's views on the role of politics in social development was closer to Senator Bernie Sanders than what she has expressed in the nomination battle that she has now won.
In other words, Hillary has moved to the right. Sanders took the political position that she was forced to abandon in order to win a national election, at a time when the political epicenter steadily moves rightward. The new "middle-of-the-road" is far more nationalistic and capitalistic than it used to be. We can see clearly this development in the US, but also in Europe and here in Sweden. We live in an era where the individualistic wins over the collectivistic and over solidarity.
This development is applicable not only in allocation policy. It also affects security policy. EU and NATO are examples of this. Turkey regards themselves not needing any of these alliances. Erdoğan moves on with his revanchist politics as if international rules of law and ideals no longer apply. Respect for the security organizations that were built up during the postwar years is today weakening. Trump and large part of the American public opinion opposes the US's key role in the global security puzzle. This fundamentally changes the foundation of the international system as it was intended to function. Even if Hillary Clinton wins the election, the American public opinion is still divided about the role of the US in the world.
Hillary came to Sweden to study our labor market, trade union cooperation, education and gender equality policy, and not least the place and role of children in our society. In fact, she devoted the first half of her speech to the Democratic convention in Philadelphia to these issues. If she were to win the election in November, she is also a symbol of women's and children's changing status and roles in society. In the early 1990s, she wrote a book worth reading: "It takes a village to raise a child". In this book she speaks about the importance of togetherness and “the common good” to create citizens who can build stable and reliable communities.
Hillary Clinton also looks with horror on how the richest grab ever larger parts of the common cake. That is what happens also here in Sweden. It is completely insane that the CEO of Ericsson gets a compensation of 62 million SEK and then, as severance pay, 28 million SEK.
Obviously the acclaimed market economy does not work as it should. The consequence is that social tension and conflicts increase.
