Manifesto: Utopia revisited
New social model brings people together
instead of keeping them apart
The ambition of the Europe 2020 project is for the countries of the European Union (EU) to join the ranks of the world’s leading states. Is that a workable proposition, now that the last ambitious plan, the Lisbon Treaty (2000-2010), has been recognized by many countries as a fruitless effort? The chance of success is slim because society’s positive dynamics are being eroded by history’s ponderous legacy and by the conflict-oriented thinking that has penetrated every fibre of our society. This manifesto focuses on the situation in Belgium, but by extension the analysis can also be applied to other Western countries, since they follow virtually the same pattern. The manifesto proposes an alternative: a new social model that unites people in Belgium, Europe and the rest of the world instead of dividing them, that lets us continue to cherish the dream of a happier society.
Conflict society goes awry
Western European society is characterized by a number of positive forces. These include an open economy, high productivity brought about by strict discipline and long and hard work, well-developed social security and health care systems, and an advanced educational system with a large number of highly educated people. Other essential features of our society are a widespread habit of personal savings and the distribution of wealth across broad swaths of the population, a properly working democracy and a strong civic spirit.
Yet that same dynamic is being systematically undermined at present by a ponderous historical legacy. In both the distant past and in recent years, milestones have been placed at distant intervals that are meant to direct the flow of society. Although the milestones are outmoded and tend to keep things from running smoothly, they were never brought in line with each other. Because of numerous sacred cows and acquired rights, any attempt at adjustment is out of the question. The heaviest burden, however, is deeply-rooted conflict-oriented thinking. Disturbing the demographic balance takes its toll, and the steamroller of our belief in progress propels the economy towards greater investment, production and consumption. In Belgium, the neocorporatist political system, with powerful non-elected interest groups at the helm, is still in control. Individualism ranks high, and a fundamental lack of trust and respect contributes to administrative disorder, endless red tape and racism. What all these elements have in common is that they are based on a kind of competition that systematically keeps people divided. Employers’ organizations are diametrically opposed to trade unions, and the parties of the majority will have nothing to do with the opposition. The citizenry is constantly being pitted against the government, and young people against the elderly.
This mentality is leading to social disruption on many fronts. At the administrative level, the engines of the federal government and social consultation have lain idle for years. Belgium’s upper governmental structure is very heavy, with too many parliamentarians, ministers and cabinet staff, and its administration is cumbersome. Never before have the key departments of Finance and Justice been so badly neglected, and with an idle labour surplus of 1.6 million people our job market is just limping along. Backbiting and red tape get in the way of normal developments, and thorny problems are endlessly postponed due to short-term thinking. At the social level, the pressure on social security is increasing, poverty is rising and there is a mounting deficit in health care. Because of weakened social cohesion there is no place for ‘losers’ or for sentiment. The elderly are languishing in solitude and the younger generation is going off the rails. The respect for norms and values has also taken a wrong turn. While greed and the acquisition of power and prestige are thriving, we are struggling with a rampant decay of moral principles. There is widespread abuse in the use of public benefits, corruption is increasing and control is breaking down. Advertising and the celebrity culture have become the new religious surrogates. Because of the lack of a social dynamic, attempts at reform never get to the heart of the problem. In addition, there is no real public discourse in Belgium, so large commercial concerns are able to monopolize the media.
In short, society is losing its way. The old narratives of the past − every search for meaning is marginalized − have given way to new mottos: look out for number one, haul in the big bucks, don’t trust anyone and ‘après nous le déluge’. On top of the developments over which we have no control, there are unavoidable global challenges facing us in the wake of globalization. We need an annual growth of two to three percent just to keep our heads above water. In addition, the twelve emerging economies are advancing relentlessly. The geo-political and geo-economic centre of gravity is shifting to the east at the speed of light, while the 79 poorest countries of the world are sinking deeper and deeper. In the meantime, the supply of raw materials is shrinking, and environmental depletion and climate change threaten the future of man and nature. Yet we are hardily prepared at all for the future. Belgium is managing quite well despite everything and we have never been as rich as we are today. The country’s positive dynamics, although admittedly strongly eroded, seem to be holding up, but that is only because all the Western countries are in the same boat. Disillusionment is at hand, however. The gap between us and the emerging economies seems unbridgeable.
The rise of China, Hong Kong, Russia, South Korea, India, Singapore, Brazil, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand and Turkey is unstoppable. They’re catching up with leaps and bounds, and according to the prognosis by 2050 at the latest they will be outperforming the countries of the West. Those countries find themselves in an inescapable downward spiral. Belgium is now losing ground according to all international rankings, and foreign investments are drying up. There are four structural handicaps that, despite very high productivity, will keep the tide from turning: a shrinking share in the export markets, towering fiscal and parafiscal pressure, the refusal to put through major reforms and, finally, the steady decline of Europe’s share in the world economy.
New social model unites people: in Belgium, Europe and the world
The thread running through our discussion of a new social model is the motto bringing people together instead of keeping them apart. This calls for the introduction of four basic interventions, first in Belgium and then in Europe and the rest of the world. ‘First Things First’. The worldwide restoration of demographic balance of 2.1 children per woman will provide for the natural replacement of the population and result in a healthy age pyramid. This development is essential to human survival and is the basic requirement for living peacefully together on our plant because it carries within itself the key to solving two thorny social problems: the question of migration and utilizing the talents of all the population groups. The second cornerstone is the reestablishment of Biblical stewardship. We must rid ourselves of our disastrous faith in progress with its constant increase in investing, producing, consuming and creating prosperity. The economy should make allowance for what man and nature can tolerate. Because those limits have been reached, we have no other choice than to change strategy. Thirdly, the career plan model will guarantee the future of social security. This model, which is based on equal treatment for a maximum number of people, is universally applicable, is simplicity itself, easily adaptable, consistent and straightforward, does away with morbid growth and raises equal treatment to the status of norm. The logical result is the generalized introduction of a flat tax to consolidate our prosperity. The fourth and last step is to boost social trust by means of an ethical code. New forms of ethical behaviour are shaped from the bottom up, but they are far from mainstream. After a parliamentary debate it is the responsibility of the government to impart ethical principles to the populace with a gentle hand and to push through an ethical code with a hard hand. This provides positive results on three fronts.
The model is implemented in phases. The first step is to sort things out in Belgium. That can be done administratively by installing experts in each sector of the upper administration, experts who will outline the vision and make a realistic estimation of future developments. Top officials who have been educated at the Hoger Instituut voor de Administratie (Higher Administrative Institute) will introduce improvements in management at every level, from high to low. We need less legislation, but what we have must be clearer and unambiguous. From a social point of view, the only way greater solidarity can be attained is when the social economy is fully extended to those who fall by the wayside. Voluntary work and social networks strengthen social capital, while art and culture raise the quality of life. In addition, upgrading soft values necessitates the introduction of tough rules. In a second phase, we call for the implementation of the plan throughout Europe, which influences our lives far more than we suspect. After the Treaty of Lisbon put institutions on a whole new footing, Europe was faced with two big challenges: strengthening integration and accepting international responsibility. The ultimate step is to require both official and unofficial institutions − the United Nations and the G20 − to accept global responsibility. The debate on international norms and values that is being conducted by NGOs and businesses should result in a worldwide ethical code. The test of the point of departure is that all earth dwellers share the same fate. The action points are: realizing environmental goals, being our brothers’ keepers on a global scale and calling a halt to the destruction of our environment.
Implementation
The implementation of this social model comprises four points. When it comes to improving the democratic structure, the shining example is the federal state of Switzerland, with its decision-making process that works from the bottom up, its federal electoral structure, the creation of the government according to a ‘magic formula’ and the appointment of a different president every year. The revision of society that the manifesto calls for will have far-reaching consequences for everyone involved. The objectification of the process will give a leading role to the new institutions: the technocrats from the top administrations, the Centrale Kruispuntbank Wetgeving (Central Legislative Hub) and two ethics committees. The revaluation of legislative power will lead to the restoration of the ‘trias politica’, while the administration will provide the populace with more assistance and guidance. The role of centerfield will be redefined. The most difficult step will be a change of mentality. Twelve basic and interwoven attitudes provide will a multiple social surplus and might cause the tide to turn much more rapidly than we expect. At the very least, the implementation of this model will not involve any additional expenditures.
A happier society ... more than a pipe dream?
We won’t need a revolution to realize this dream, but we will need a thorough revision to strengthen the existing positive dynamics in our society. That will go hand in hand with the decision to surrender prosperity and introduce sustainability, preferably voluntarily, as our new ideal.
This manifesto resembles a cluster of soap bubbles: our proposals constitute a coherent whole. If one of the bubbles in the cluster bursts along the way it’s not a disaster, since the other bubbles will simply move in to take its place. In the meantime, the immaterial motto of our mission − bringing people together instead of keeping them apart, which is the thread running through every proposal − propels the whole manifesto toward the final goal: a happier society in Belgium, in Europe and in the world. Is this nothing but a pipe dream? Or will Utopia Revisited be more than a utopian vision? No matter what the outcome, we’ll keep on cherishing the dream of a happier society.