Gordon Brown’s vision for Labour

PAUL DONOVAN welcomes Brown's embrace of active social citizenry and a multipolar world. But what about Corbyn, Gordon?

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FORMER prime minister and chancellor Gordon Brown has delivered a most timely analysis of the chaotic state of the world, with some rays of hope for the future.

Brown makes an excellent critique of the economic system, the ravages caused by neoliberalism, the eclipse of concepts like the common good and rise of nationalism.

The central narrative is one of economic decline across the world, alongside a hollowing out, if not eradication, of civil society. This has in turn led to the rise of populist nationalism across the world.

Brown champions the idea of an active, rather than a passive, social citizenry. He identifies trade unions, faith groups, political parties, as all being among those in decline.

There are some alarming studies, such as one recalling war games based on AI control of nuclear deterrents. This found that in 21 simulated crises, AI chose to use nuclear weapons 95 percent of the time. And the book, of course, was completed before the more recent alarms being sounded about AI destroying humanity in 10 years.

Brown critiques neoliberalism, as having been responsible for many of the problems today — including the rise of nationalist populism. He doesn’t, however, admit to his own role as a major player on that scene from 1997 to 2010.

Indeed, his references to his own service during this time are very little. He admits ringing Turkish despot Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in 2008, supporting his efforts to get his country into the EU. Something blocked by France and Germany.

The Sure Start programme also gets a passing mention as a plus in community-building.

But that is about it. This approach adds a certain air of objectivity, though some may also see it as a falseness.

The left will also be irritated by the effective airbrushing of the Corbyn years. Talking of the demise of political parties, as mass member bodies, there is no reference as to how the Labour Party was the biggest party in Europe, with more than half a million members, under Corbyn.

Indeed, many of the ideas of the Corbyn period could be argued to be what Brown would now  like to see as part of the way forward — economically and community wise.

The Andy Burnham mantra obviously resonates with much of what Brown is suggesting, with a new world order, the revival of civic life and active citizenry.

Brown describes a world of multipolar as opposed to unipolar power. So, there will be the US and China but if the other countries pull together into a co-operative bloc they can be at least, if not more, influential. The narrative in this respect is very much in line with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s prognosis for the future.

On solutions, Brown has some interesting ideas for co-operation between countries on issues like climate change, poverty and economic development.

Central to success, though, is equality, empathy and co-operation. Civil society needs to be rebuilt and supported, alongside international economic fairness.

At times the book gets bogged down in stats and can seem rather turgid. But overall, it is an excellent analysis of what has gone wrong and what can be done to put it right.

Brown seems to have much faith in technology. He does identify some of the corrosive effects of social media and the like. He, for instance, highlights growing isolation and loneliness in society. However, he doesn’t really identify how, in detail, this atomisation can be addressed.

It is, after all, a feature of the present economic model that needs to change. Brown certainly wants change. He wants community rebuilt, so a feeling that all belong.

A very good read, particularly apposite at the moment, with some of the ideas being proposed by Burnham’s Labour government.

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