Towards an Anti-fascist Economics: Essentials, affordability and democracy

Towards an Anti-fascist Economics: Essentials, affordability and democracy

It has by now become a common place: Inflation was a decisive factor in Trump’s reelection. Surveys show that voters expected Democrats to protect them from price shocks. Yet, Bidenomics and the Harris campaign shied away from intervening against price hikes and windfall profits in essentials like food, energy and housing. 

Based on work for a forthcoming book on Anti-fascist Economics, this presentation argues that, in this moment of crisis, a basic contradiction of neoliberal capitalism became apparent. In a neoliberal world, we tell people at the same time: "Democracy is the highest form of political organization”; and “When it comes to the economy, the best the representatives of the people can do is to subordinate their constituencies to the corporate pursuit of profits". This contradiction between the rule of the people and the rule of the market makes neoliberal democracy vulnerable to the threat of fascism. 

To win back democracies a different economics is a key building block, one that pursues a reorganization of essential sectors of the economy to ensure affordability and sustainable production, and one that defies the dichotomy of globalization and protectionism by reenvisioning internationally coordinated trade.  

*This seminar is invitation only, please contact Lubala Chibwe.