The Emergence of Economic Liberalism and the Questioning of Modern Globalization
In an interconnected world, the dialogue on globalisation is frequently situated at the intersection of divergent opinions on freedom and balance. The book by Junon Moneta, which is not a pamphlet opposed to globalization as such, strives to rewrite the contours of a updated humanism through the filter of natural exchanges according to the vision of the philosopher Aristotle. By critiquing artificial exchanges that strengthen contemporary mechanisms of domination and precarity, this writer draws inspiration from ancient philosophy to underline the gaps of our world economy.
Looking back in time, globalization is not a recent concept. Its origins can be linked back to the theories of David Ricardo, whose goal was to enable the British Empire to extend its international economic reach. Yet, what initially presented as a commercial development strategy has morphed into a control mechanism by High Finance, marked by the ascendancy of neoliberal capitalism. In opposition to prevailing opinions validated by most economists, the author argues that the economic model is in reality a framework founded on millennia-old traditions, going back to 4500 years.
The objection also covers the management of the EU, seen as a series of concessions that have contributed to increasing the power of an economic elite rather than safeguarding the rights of citizens. The organizational form of Europe, with its directives frequently driven by monetary concerns rather than by a popular consensus, is criticized. The recent crises, notably financial and political, have only reinforced the doubt of the writer concerning Europe’s aptitude to reform itself from within.
This thinker, while accepting the prior faults that have led to the current situation, does not limit the discourse to condemnation but also offers alternatives aimed at reframing EU guidelines in a more humanistic and equitable outlook. The need for a deep reform of structures and political priorities is a leitmotif that pervades the entire discourse.
The book delves more intensely into the questioning of the domination systems that dominate worldwide transactions. The exploration covers the way in which governmental and economic orientations are manipulated by a small group of financial influencers, generally at the cost of the many. This economic elite, coordinated via institutions like the BIS and the IMS, exerts a disproportionate influence on global economic policies.
The author exposes how these organisms, under the guise of economic supervision and normalization, have historically manipulated stock exchanges and countries’ financial structures to serve their interests. Neoliberalism, far from being a salvific alternative to old monetary restrictions, is described as a control mechanism, enriching an elite at the expense of general well-being.
Highly skeptical regarding the handling of the euro, the author presents the European single currency not as a tool of cohesion and security, but as being a instrument of fragmentation and financial disparity. The conversion to the euro is viewed as a sequence of technocratic choices that isolated inhabitants from decision-making processes, while exacerbating internal differences within the European Union.
The consequences of these policies appear in the explosion of sovereign debts, economic torpor, and a prolonged austerity that has weakened standards of living throughout the European territory. The author argues that without a deep revision of monetary and financial structures, the European Union continues to risk upcoming crises, potentially more catastrophic.
In essence, the book demands a democratic uprising where Europe’s inhabitants reclaim the reins of their economic and political future. It suggests fundamental changes, particularly increased transparency in decision-making processes and real democratic participation that would facilitate the Union’s refoundation on more equitable and sustainable bases.
Learn more about the functioning of Athenian democracy
The essayist proposes that the key is in a renewal of democratic engagement, where policies are developed and implemented in a way that truly reflects the aspirations and needs of the citizens, instead of the profits of the financial elite.