Ségolène Royal – Politics of civilization and political voluntarism

Crises reflect a world that no longer exists and herald a world that does not exist, yet. Such is the historical time we are experiencing. Close interdependence of what we commonly call because it is convenient or easier, “crises” (financial, economic, social, ecological, food, democratic…”) and our incapability to address them separately, shows that the left of the 21st century has to counterforce the model which, on a global level has reached its limits and constitutes the condition of multiple insecurities, with what the sociologist Edgar Morin calls “politics of civilization”.

From this perspective, the various challenges that the old concept of society and progress used to dissociate to the point of exaggeration must be confronted directly.

One example is the ecological challenge. It is impossible to achieve this, commonly acknowledged, urgent ecological revolution by constraining it within an artificially sectoral approach. Another vision of development and a true effectiveness in the protection of our environment, implies the radical transformation of our economies, industrial policies adapted to future needs, mass investment in research and training for the encouragement of creation of activities and innovative methods of production. It means, at the same time, the enrichment of our perception for social justice beyond the notion of redistribution, although on second guess this might also be necessary. The policies for real equality must incorporate the ecological dimension, provide access to public transport and quality in social settlements, reduce the bills of lower income households through the use of renewable energy, include this struggle for healthy work conditions in industry and agriculture, reinvent the solidarity between the North and the South, etc.

Facing the indifference of French car manufacturers, I decided to appeal to the district where I preside, for programs of construction of an economic, electric car. I did it for a number of reasons. Ecological: a vehicle that is not depended from oil and doesn’t pollute. Economic: in order to encourage innovative enterprises and the transformation of a car industry, that although possesses the know-how is actually in the danger of extinction because its donors had abandoned it and the fatalism of decision makers has condemned it. Social: for the transformation of hundreds of jobs under threat into jobs of the future and the provision of a low cost car to everyone. Tax reasons: because I advocate an ecological, effective and socially just taxation, I opposed the carbon tax that was implemented by the Sarcozy administration. Since today neither electrical low cost cars, nor mass public transport are available for the regional – urban and agricultural environment, what is the freedom of choice for a different mode of transport apart from the diesel fueled personal car and how can the lower income families become ecologically responsible?

I wanted the Region to jointly solidify the demand and supply of electric vehicles. Above all, we mobilized the enterprises for the launching of an innovative program. We participated in the financing capital of this car industry with 5 million Euros (a first for France!) to encourage the involvement of citizens and oblige the State to perform its duty by activating the funds of strategic investment that were created, in theory, in order to boost economic recovery. We made a commitment to safeguard the professional careers of the wage earners (by training and guarantee of resources) in this transitional phase between the vanishing of old jobs and the creation of new ones. At the same time, we solidified demand by mobilizing corporations and local communities to buy those electric vehicles and by contributing to their purchase by citizens.

Our involvement does not in any way constitute a return to the way the economy was managed in the past, where the State was directly acting as a businessman. This humble example represents what I believe must be the new voluntarism of public power, in contrast to the exaggerated pseudo- voluntarism of the Sarkozyan right: to provide an answer for contemporary problems here and now, while we are imagining the future, and to choose multifaceted policies where social justice is a prerequisite for economic, ecological and democratic effectiveness.

Special issue: proposals for a progressive governance
Tags: climate-change, economic crisis, France, Ségolène Royal, social democracy