Lecture 5: The Resurgent Right in the West

TL;DR

The content examines the resurgence of right-wing politics in the West, tracing its origins to the assault on the welfare state and the decline of solidarity in capitalist democracies.

Transcript

• Okay, so today, we're talking about the resurgent right in the West. Let's get fix our intuitions with a little walk down memory lane. - [Ronald Reagan] In Chicago, they found a woman who holds the record. She used 80 names, 30 addresses, 15 telephone numbers to collect food stamps, social security, veteran's benefits for four non-existent deceas... Read More

Key Insights

• ⚾ The postwar consensus and the welfare state were based on a broad agreement across political ideologies, supported by bipartisan efforts in many Western democracies.
• ❓ The decline of Communism diminished the perceived threat to the welfare state and weakened the incentive for politicians to support redistributive policies.
• 🖐️ Distributive politics play a significant role in shaping political outcomes, as people often prioritize absolute improvements over relative gains.
• 🧑‍⚕️ The decline of union membership reflects a broader decline in solidarity among workers, making it more challenging to mobilize support for redistributive policies.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the postwar consensus, and how did it shape the welfare state in Western democracies?

The postwar consensus refers to the broad agreement across political ideologies to support social democracy and the welfare state in Western democracies. This consensus led to the implementation of policies such as healthcare, social protections, progressive taxation, and redistribution through the tax system.

Q: How did the decline of Communism impact the support for the welfare state?

The decline of Communism diminished the fear of a more radical alternative to the welfare state in Western democracies. This, in turn, reduced the urgency to maintain or expand welfare state policies, as the main alternative no longer existed. It also made it easier to dismiss arguments against the welfare state by linking it to Communism.

Q: Why did Reagan and Thatcher's conservative ideologies gain traction in the late 1970s and early 1980s?

Reagan and Thatcher capitalized on a shift in distributive politics, promoting ideologies that prioritized absolute improvements over relative gains. They appealed to voters by promising upward mobility and preserving the existing economic order, rather than focusing on reducing inequality. This approach resonated with working-class voters who aspired to move up the socioeconomic ladder.

Q: How did the decline of union membership contribute to the resurgence of conservative politics?

The decline of union membership weakened solidarity among workers and reduced the capacity for collective bargaining and redistributive politics. Unions historically played a crucial role in advocating for worker rights and promoting a solidaristic conception of fairness. As union influence waned, conservative parties were able to appeal to individual economic interests and limit downward redistribution.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The content explores the historical context of the postwar consensus and the welfare state in capitalist democracies such as the US and Europe.

• It highlights the bipartisan support for the welfare state and the significant changes that occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s with the rise of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.

• The decline of Communism, changes in distributive politics, and shifting power relations in the economy contributed to the resurgence of right-wing politics and the attack on the welfare state.