European left: The political left was christened in Europe during the French Revolution. It may have ended as a vital force with the opening of the Berlin wall in November 1989. A few years ago, the parties of left and centre-left seemed to be flourishing. They were either in or about to be in the government of every leading EU member state. But the financial crisis – which should have been a windfall for politicians who traditionally took the side of the people against the bankers – has shown how shallow the roots really were. There are three problems.
First, the abject failure of communist command economies to put policies of extensive nationalisation and income controls out of bounds for reasonable politicians. Centre-left parties now keep their distance from former comrades who talk in such terms. In Germany, the refusal of the Social Democrats to make common cause with the new Left Party helped the centre-right Christian Democrats win last week’s election.
Second, there is little disagreement between left and right about either the basic goodness of the European economic arrangement, the benefits of a welfare state and big government, or the need for reforms that are toughest on voters who typically support the left.
The lack of policy alternatives almost encourages voters to throw incumbents out, as is likely to happen to the UK’s Labour party next year.
Finally, the left’s flirtation with financial capitalism proved a failure. The UK’s governing party got particularly close to the thinking of the City, but established centre-left parties were remarkably quiet throughout Europe as the financial bubble expanded and bankers became richer. Now, they have no real alternatives to offer. They are even hesitant to promote traditionally left-wing notions such as higher taxes on the rich and substantially more generous programmes for the poor.
Of course, the lack of distinctive policies can help the left, if the incumbents are from the right. The Greek socialist opposition Pasok just won an election with little more in the way of policies than spending more and not currently being in power.
Such victories are hardly ideal. Unless the European left comes up with some new and substantial economic ideas, its constituent parties could become directionless patronage machines. The disappearance of meaningful policy debate would be a loss for voters on the left and right alike.