Joerg Haider in historical perspective
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 17:15:32 +0000 From: Alister Sieghart asieghart@gn.apc.org
A couple of comments hoping to input into this debate. Firstly, WW Williams says "We shouldn't be surprised if left-wing socialists in Portugal or today's British government, for example, hurl the term "far right" around with liberal abandon to describe anyone who does not subscribe to their way of thinking." I don't know whether this was intended, but it's quite a stretch to characterise the current UK government as "far-left". Originally elected as "New" Labour, i.e. with a much more centrist agenda, common perception is that they have been drifting to the right since they came to power, driven, it appears by populist motives. What is perhaps more surprising is that they have made as much noise about the Austrian situation. Some would say that this is because external targets are an easy and a convenient distraction from illiberal policies at home. Second, I too much appreciate Lonnie Johnson's detailed analysis, I would, however, like to take him up on one point. He talks at some length of "EU sanctions" against Austria, but the countries in question have made it clear that the sanctions are all on a _bilateral_ basis between the individual countries and Austria, and that the EU will continue to function as normal unless the Austrian government diverges from its stated programme and specifically breaches any EU agreements on, for example, democratic participation within member states. Finally, in response to Lee Eysturlid's question with regard to "far-left" or "neo-Stalinist" parties, I would say that there is so little reference to them because such parties barely exist any more, or, where they do, command such small memberships and are so fragmented that they have become completely marginalised in the political process. Regards Alister Sieghart Shades & Characters Ltd. 10a St. John's Square, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9DP, UK.