A revolution from above

[xchrom]

http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/1205541-revolution-above

After the fall of the Greek and Italian governments and the disaster of the Spanish left in this Sunday’s elections, what is happening in Europe? Are we looking at incidents in a minor story of political reshuffles that have failed to keep up with the financial crisis? Or are we crossing a threshold in the very development of this crisis, which will have an irreversible impact on institutions and the manner in which they are legitimated? Despite the unknowns, it’s time to risk an assessment.

There is not a great deal to be said about electoral events (like the one that will probably occur in France in six months time). It is clear that voters hold governments responsible for the growing social insecurity experienced by a majority of citizens in our countries, and that they have few illusions about their successors (although there is no denying that in the wake of Berlusconi, one can understand why Mario Monti is, at least for the moment, setting new popularity records).

The more important question concerns the evolution of institutions. Resignations in response to pressure from markets which make borrowing costs rise or fall, the emergence of a Franco-German “directorate”within the EU, and the enthronement of “technicians” linked to international finance, ordained and supervised by the IMF, cannot fail to provoke debates, emotions, expressions of concern and justifications.
A “preventive strategy” on the part of the ruling classes

One of the most frequently recurring themes has been the “commissarial dictatorship” which suspends democracy in order to preserve the possibility of its continued existence – a notion defined by Bodin at the dawn of the modern state and later theorised by Carl Schmitt. “Commissars” today cannot be army officers or magistrates, they must be economists.

[Vincardog]

1. Revolutions never occur from Above. Revulsion is the only thing that comes from the top

[bhikkhu]

2. I wouldn't say never.

(as a student of history)

[Vincardog]

6. Name one REVOLUTION from above. I bet is was a coup

[meow2u3]

3. It's a neoliberal coup, not a revolution from above

Real revolutions come from the grass roots, not imposed from the ruling elite.

[xchrom]

4. i don't disagree w/ you -- i believe the author is using the word 'revolution' to wake

us up to how radical & entrenched these powers are.

[pscot]

5. Interesting article

Interesting site, also. Thanks for the link.