We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

The Lady's not for mourning: Margaret Thatcher and the neoliberal counter-revolution

Click here to access article by Neil Faulkner from CounterFire (Britain).

There is much to be learned from this historian regarding the emergence of neoliberalism under the Thatcher administration in Britain.  Such lessons are important for all activists regardless of their national affiliation. We must think globally like our antagonists in the One Percent if we are to successfully engage them in this class war. Britain has played an important role in the development of the existing Empire which at its core is an Anglo-American Empire.

You will learn about the City of London and the post-war growth of the financial industry in this district of London by providing a haven for unregulated capitalism, the adoption of the Eurodollar as its vehicle, the attack on coal-mining unions as a pivotal battle in this class war, the Big Bang, the People's Assembly (June 22nd), etc. (For more information on the latter, see this, this, and this.)

The neoliberal phase of British capitalism, in my mind, was not a counter-revolution to welfare-state capitalism also known as "social democracy". The latter was only a temporary adjustment to the devastating conditions facing the British following WWII. Their ruling class was forced to grant immediate concessions to working people in order to hold on to their reign and beloved system. But, as the country recovered, this ruling class regained their power and confidence and by the late 1970s were ready to launch their next attack in the never-ending (until we end it!) capitalist class war in the form of neoliberalism. 

Currently we see the ecstatic celebration of Thatcher's life in the media of the One Percent because her British regime spearheaded the development of this phase of capitalism. Regardless of the boldness and arrogance that the One Percents currently display, they have reasons to worry.
And here is the problem for them. Our side is often down, but never out. As long as there is exploitation, oppression, and violence, there is class struggle. We can be weakened, but we never go away. And in time, the resistance always recovers.