Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 20:21:03 +0000
From: Richard Bos <Richard.Bos-AT-hagcott.meganet.co.uk>
Subject: Re: M-I: The EU and monetary union


Adam Rose wrote:
<snip>

> Nevertheless I feel that Richard is wrong to deduce from the
> rise of a European "super state" that the role of the nation
> state is as a result reduced. I think the opposite is the case. In
> the intra EU dog fight between national champions, the nation
> state is very important in defending the economic interests of
> particular companies in particular states. Consider the punch
> up over the Euro fighter, the arguments over BSE, or over
> subsidies to national airlines. The importance of these links
> between nation state and capital increases as EU progresses.
> For instance, an important component of the recent Ford
> sell out deal is that Ford still believes the British state has enough
> clout in Europe to deliver EU subsidies to Halewood in Liverpool
> ( or perhaps more precisely Ford pretends to believe it, and the
> Trade Union Leaders really do believe that Blair can deliver the
> required subsidy ).
> 
> Adam.

Adam is basically right about the EU, but I think that there is
something much bigger going on than he or Will appreciate.

I didn't actually say that with the rise of the European "super state",
the role of the nation state would be reduced, although the big
capitalists would like it to be. Nationalism would probobly increase as
the different nations see themselves with no meaningful 
self-determination because the real power will not be in local
parliaments or even in a bourgouis parliament in Brussels, or wherever
they decide to locate it.

Yes it is true that the maintainance of the nation state is important
for the survival of some capitalists, but for the really big players it
is just a hinderance. They couldn't give a fig for all the smaller
companies. They have gone beyond seeing themselves as equal partners to
the nation states whose budgets they often rival. They are fighting to
control global markets and populations.

Whether they can succeed or not is down to us. 

Remember...there are more of us, and we create the wealth that they
steal!

Comradely,

Richard.                     
      New Worker Online http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/2853




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