Political Climb: The Emergence of "Moderate Capitalism" from Conservative Stance
In the political landscape of Europe, a unique blend of social welfare policies and conservative values is gaining traction. Known as conservative socialism, this approach is challenging the traditional liberal framework and reshaping the political identity of several countries.
In Germany, the roots of conservative socialism can be traced back to the 19th century with figures like Adolf Stoecker and his Christian Social Workers' Party. More recently, Chancellor Otto von Bismarck introduced the first modern welfare state in the 1880s, a move aimed at preserving order and countering the rise of socialism. Today, parties like the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) embody this tradition, advocating for a social market economy that balances free-market capitalism with social welfare protections.
A contemporary example of this trend is Sahra Wagenknecht's Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) in Germany. Wagenknecht, a former leader of the Left Party (Die Linke), advocates positions critical of neoliberal globalization, mass immigration, and the erosion of traditional social cohesion. The BSW's platform combines socialist economic policies with appeals to conservative values on identity and social order, positioning itself as a challenge to the dominant liberal framework in Germany.
Across the North Sea, the Danish Social Democrats, led by Mette Frederiksen, have adopted a tough immigration policy that has gained infamy across Europe. This approach, inspired by those of Australia and Israel, is part of a strategy to win elections by appeasing the working class and preserving the stability of the welfare system. However, this policy has been criticized by some for threatening human rights and minorities.
Meanwhile, in Eastern Europe, SMER, a Slovak political party, has followed a similar path. Founded in 1999 as a split from the Strana demokratické levice (Party of the Democratic Left, SDL), SMER has become more conservative than socialist over the years and has expanded its links with the far right. In September 2023, SMER won the parliamentary election with 23% of the vote. However, since its re-election, Slovakia has taken an even more authoritarian path, with the police, judiciary, and media purged of dissident voices.
In contrast to the successes experienced by the BSW in Germany, the conservative socialist approach has accompanied a decline into irrelevance for the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). The history of the BSP is unique, and the party's shift to the right began decades before the current crisis. Today, the BSP has taken an openly right-wing stance on issues related to gender, LGBTQI+ rights, and migration, and has supported a law banning LGBTQI+ "propaganda" in schools.
The BSW, in its recent performances, has made Sahra Wagenknecht a "kingmaker" in the east of Germany, giving the new party considerable political power. The BSW primarily gained voters from Die Linke and mainstream parties, but not as much as Wagenknecht would have liked from the AfD. In the recent German state elections in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg, the BSW performed well, indicating a growing influence in the region.
The Party of European Socialists (PES) has suspended SMER from its membership for going into coalition with the far right. Prominent figures like Robert Fico have been forced to resign following mass protests. Yet, SMER continues to wield significant power in Slovakia's political landscape.
In conclusion, conservative socialism is a significant force reshaping European politics. It offers a unique blend of social welfare policies with conservative cultural or national values, distinct from both liberalism and classical socialism. This approach has influenced many European center-right parties' commitments to social insurance and welfare alongside market economies, and continues to shape ongoing debates about nationalism, social policy, and political identity in Europe.
References:
- The Guardian
- The Conversation
- BBC News
- Reuters
- Politico
- Al Jazeera
- The New York Times
- The Economist
- Deutsche Welle
- The conservative socialist approach, as exemplified by parties like the BSW in Germany and SMER in Slovakia, has permeated policy-and-legislation across Europe, challenging traditional political norms and reshaping the political landscape.
- In the realm of general-news, the evolution of conservative socialism has been a subject of intense debate, with its impact on socio-economic policies, immigration, identity, and human rights becoming a key focal point in European politics.