News

First reflection on the US election 2016 by Conny Reuter, SOLIDAR Secretary-General

The results are clear: Trump has been elected as the 45th President of the United States. A democratic vote. Nonetheless many seem to be rather surprised and are trying to understand the results. How could the polling institutes not see this one coming? Perhaps because many among the voters are keeping secrets and the polls don’t replace the actual elections! How could this happen? It might have something to do with the fact that in the US like in many European countries the underestimation or even denial of a balance between economic and social policies in times of crisis and increasing inequalities is the seed for populists. They manage through constant provocation to be in the headlines facilitated by high speed communication through new media. In less than 15 minutes a provocation, as tough as it can be, can reach headlines around the globe and will be disseminated regardless of the good intentions of journalists. This facilitates the positioning of ideas, a discourse or even individuals. When populists are not immediately covered by the classical media, their (somewhat intimidating) shouts and cries of censorship and manipulation occupy different twitter accounts, which results (intelligently enough) again in media coverage simply to get out of the way of any allegations, valid or not. Le Pen started like this in the 80s, Wilders is on the same track, as are Strache and the AFD.

Clinton had certainly the best professional machine to run the campaign, but the result should remind us that elections are more than sophisticated campaigning techniques. Elections have to do with sentiments, mind settings and emotions. And in this case the emotions are nourished by the fear factor, fear of losing, fear of the other, fear of change, fear of uncertainty of transitions. In times of globalisation and crisis, progressives need to give not only hope and trust in the future, but need to present a project, or what Americans call a vision. The best argument is not better because we are convinced it is, the best argument must also correspond to the recipient of that message and refer to moods and trends in society or from time to time stand firmly against them. Our values of freedom, democracy, social justice, solidarity need to be anchored in society and on this a campaign can be built.

Credibility of candidates and political agendas is another key issue besides the need to close the gap, between the people and those representing them. Populists manage that the anti-establishment discourse remains prevailing even though adopted by those who are part of the establishment! Ignoring the fact that none of them has been a worker before, but many have been business people who seem to be more trustworthy than politicians and who can mobilise with the idea of running a country like a business like Berlusconi and some in the new member states.

At a global level, looking at Russia, China and now the US, there is a chance for Europe, for our democracies and for the progressives. We need to stand up against the populist discourse and bring our discourse closer to the citizens! Media is a tool and has a responsibility. If they are occupied by the populists, we risk our ideas and values to be seen as “old fashioned”. Indeed themes such as solidarity, social justice and taming of financial capitalism are nothing new, but remain the only way to secure a promising future for all. People are not convinced and feel more bounded. We do the social work, unions unite the workers and politicians should rely on their networks and supporters for the outreach of their ideas into real social networks. Reading and understanding Gramsci helps!