MANIFESTO NFI 2007 MANIFESTO FOR A NEW EUROPE - ΜΑΝΙΦΕΣΤΟ ΓΙ | Page 8
Manifesto for a New Europe
hand, runs counter to a social order informed by solidarity. As
the poverty risk is being enhanced by unemployment, precari-
ous employment, but also by divorce or the death of a spouse,
a universal basic income scheme which covers not only vital
material needs but in addition permits social and cultural par-
ticipation becomes indispensable.
New world order and ‘new wars’ – for
peaceful conflict resolution in a
multipolar world
OUR GOAL
A sustainable Europe needs to champion non-violent forms of
conflict resolution. The military hegemony of the USA needs
to be counteracted with peaceful means of development and
with collective security systems.
WE KNOW
The end of the ‘cold war’ and the collapse of the bi-polar world
order set off the development of a unilateral constellation in
world politics. The USA established itself as a hegemonic power
and extended its sphere of influence. The war in Afghanistan
enables the USA to establish military bases in former Soviet
republics, such as Uzbekistan, Kirghizia or Tajikistan. Support
to political ‘revolutions’ in Georgia and Ukraine and the set-
ting up of military bases in Central Asia are aimed at curtailing
Russia’s traditional sphere of influence.
US geopolitical efforts are not limited to the Eurasian region,
however. The United States is also engaged in strengthening
its position in Africa, as is illustrated by its military presence
from the Maghreb to Somalia. Since the first Gulf War in 1991,
the USA has, moreover, been in direct control of the Persian
Gulf, which boasts three thirds of the world’s oil reserves, and
the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was designed to consolidate this
power position.
This expansion of the US empire is underpinned by a mas-
sive increase in military expenditures, which have risen from
one third of global military expenditure in 1995 to one half of
global expenditure. The goals cited in justification of this US
expansion policy are ‘liberation and democratisation of the
world’ and ‘war against terrorism’, though the definition of
the new enemy is still outstanding. This slogan serves as cam-
ouflage for big-time business interests, such as contracts for
US companies in the countries of the new allies or access to
strategic raw materials.
In the wake of this unilateral world order, Russia, but also
China further upgraded their military potential, triggering a
renewed escalation of armament, including nuclear weapons.
Even non-state agents along the periphery violently intervene
in this fight over global hegemony, and international terrorism
is supported in various ways (supply of arms and/or ideology)
by the key actors behind this military armament.
8 International Friends of Nature
So far, Europe, but also collective organisations such as the
UN, have had little to set against this development. Europe
and France in particular have sought to establish a ‘European
counter-power’, for instance by strengthening the French-Ger-
man axis, which has lately played a significant role in the Iraq
issue. At the level of the United Nations, both the reform of
the Security Council and of the Commission on Human Rights
failed in 2005, the US claim to hegemony being the main ob-
stacle that prevents the UN from playing an influential role in
world politics.
WE DEMAND
We demand an end to the geopolitical expansion course steered
by the USA and to the growing militarisation of the world, be
it within the EU, in Russia or Asia. In the European region and
within the EU-27 steps must be taken to counteract the expan-
sion of NATO by setting up a collective security system in Eu-
rope. We take a stand against military ‘development aid’ to de-
veloping countries and against arms exports to these countries,
which are contributory factors in the disastrous civil wars waged
in the southern hemisphere. Such ‘aid’ and exports should be
replaced by economic cooperation and economic assistance
offered by rich countries. The raw material resources of poor
countries should be used to develop their domestic economies
rather than being exploited by global business groups – a type
of economic imperialism directly linked to armament and wars
in resource-rich countries.
Armament potentials and expenditures, which amount
worldwide to 1 000 trillion dollars annually, need to be re-
duced. The amounts saved should flow into debt relief and
the economic upswing of developing countries and into up-
grading social security in both the northern and the southern
hemisphere. For Europe we advocate large-scale demilitarisation
and restrictions on arms production. The main pillar of Europe’s
security system must not be military capacity, but political,
economic and technological cooperation and the recognition
of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity.
The role of the United Nations needs to be strengthened
with a view to boosting the chances of peaceful conflict reso-
lution. This calls for organisational reforms, such as an enlarge-
ment of the Security Council – a long-standing demand of the
Third World. Moreover, the UN needs more funds for peace
missions, which are in growing demand especially on the Af-
rican continent, due to post-colonial conflicts.
Individualism and precarisation – for a
Europe informed by solidarity
OUR AIM
A sustainable Europe is a Europe subscribing to a social order
that is informed by solidarity. Social security is the core element
of economic success and prosperity for all.