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Introduction

Since the outbreak of euphoria which surrounded the collapse of `actually existing socialism' in eastern Europe, critical scrutiny of the fundamental faults which characterise our own system in the west has become increasingly rare. This book is an attempt to contribute to the broad debate which must ensue if we are to change that sorry situation and rebuild a socialist movement capable of being effective in the changed circumstances of a new century.
Whereas neoliberals expect nothing but good to come from the market, socialists remain committed to a society based on a perception of humanity not as the narrow homo economicus of classical economic theory, but rather as homo universalis. Where liberals believe that individualism will lead us to `the empire of liberty', socialists counter this with an understanding of the social nature of human beings and of the fact that any practical politics must take this into account.
The one-dimensional character of neoliberalism leads it to ignore the fact that as well as purely economic interests (for which read `the interests of the economically and financially powerful'), there exist numerous other criteria upon which policy can be criticised and assessed. Standards, values, the idea of a social conscience, these may recently have returned as legitimate subjects of political debate, but for a long time they seemed to have disappeared from the stage. In the no-nonsense approach of the '80s and '90s, any talk of such things has been regarded as suspect.
For most of those who subscribe to the doctrines of neoliberalism this remains the case. Every man for himself, sauve qui peut, is the cornerstone of a philosophy which is shortsighted and narrowminded. And it is this shortsightedness which seems more than anything to underscore the current prevailing political and economic ideology, the long-term consequences of governmental or commercial actions being rarely weighed in the balance.
The removal of ideology from the sphere of politics has certainly contributed to this overvaluing of the short-term. Political parties are less and less frequently a form of expression for people gathered together to promote their ideas of how to improve the social good. A consensus dominates, silencing debate. Politics is becoming a wallflower, and through this process democracy itself is endangered. People are increasingly led to feel that what they think or believe or for whom or what they vote are no longer of any importance. As a result, a growing number of men and women who until recently placed their hopes in the political process no longer bother to vote. The legitimacy of government is called into question.
The collapse of Comecon, the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union, has relieved capitalism's critics of the deadweight of an unwanted identification with the eastern European system. There is now more space for us to make, on the basis of a concrete analysis of a concrete situation, a critical review of the status quo, as well as to look towards possible alternatives. Missed chances, however, continue to pile up. Despite continual economic growth, social conflicts are sharpening as a range of problems intensify and more and more people are condemned to live lives of poverty, solitude and hopelessness. The world as `global village' should be bringing different peoples closer together to the mutual benefit of all; paradoxically, of course, it has done more to divide than to unite us.
"The head cannot teach what the heart doesn't feel." Effective political engagement begins with observation, scepticism and analysis, but this must always proceed from a certain ethical framework. Only in this way can we begin to approach society's ills in a rational manner. Is my anger or indignation justified? Is there an alternative? Does the pursuit of this alternative justify the effort and resources involved?
The gap between "what is" and "what ought to be" has grown too wide. For anyone for whom what may be practical in the parliamentary arena does not provide the be-all and end-all of politics, the challenge is now to think of ways in which we might create a society which does justice to the dignity of every individual, a society which is willing and able to base itself upon the principles of equality and solidarity amongst all of its members

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“Enough” Contents:

• Index
• Preface
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 The wondrous rebirth of liberalism
• Chapter 2 The death of social democracy
• Chapter 3 The disempowerment of the people
• Chapter 4 Poverty in the midst of plenty
• Chapter 5 The assault of the market
• Chapter 6 The unbearable lightness of commerce
• Chapter 7 A question of civilisation
• Chapter 8 The United States of Europe
• Chapter 9 The spectre of the world market
• Chapter 10 The inevitability of an alternative
• Preface to the 2006 - updated edition
• Chapter 11 Ten years later, in the Netherlands
• Chapter 12 2006: Another world is possible
• Chapter 13 New optimism