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Time for renewal

People are fed up with the political establishment: same old faces, same old interests, same old policies. That’s not only the case in (typically developing) countries, where authoritarian and unelected governments have reigned for centuries, where political power is often passed on within the family and where democracy still tends to be a mere fig leaf. It is also true for established western democracies like the USA, France or Germany and for newly industrialised countries such as South Korea or South Africa. In fact, it’s a global phenomenon.

Katja Dombrowski

31.12.2016

People want fresh faces and new ideas. They want be heard and respected with all their needs and fears and addressed in a language they understand. In their opposition to “the elite”, the frustrated – sometimes unwittingly, sometimes on purpose – support populists, radicals, liars and other dubious figures. By doing so, so-called protest voters jeopardise social cohesion, and even the governability of their countries.

This approach is risky and stupid. Moreover, it is absurd to believe that millionaires and billionaires like Donald Trump represent opposition to the establishment, because they are actually part of it themselves.

Nonetheless, the motives of frustrated voters are somewhat understandable. In some countries, the whole political system undoubtedly needs an overhaul. In others, a renewal of the established parties would do. Overturning everything and starting from scratch is time-consuming and dangerous. In my view, the right approach is to combine valuable experience with innovative thinking. Blinkers must be removed. Policymakers, for instance, must assess what has gone wrong with their macroeconomic strategies which have not delivered the promised results for years.

However, innovation – in form of, let’s say, young, female newbies with unconventional ideas and approaches – hardly has a chance in established parties. No wonder people are tempted to turn to the most absurd alternatives given that, for example, the majority of the Democrats in the US House of Representatives is more than 60 years old, and more than half of them have been in office for over two decades. What kind of change can you expect from such a team? Do they want reforms – or secure their jobs? Do they still know what is going on out there – or have they made themselves comfortable in the community of office bearers? People must be really desperate if they feel better understood by a 70 year old billionaire with a twitter account.

There is no general answer, of course. But there is a public image, and that has a lot of weight. Even Germany’s once innovative Green Party needs renewal. Though its membership is still comparatively young, the average member is male and about 50 years old. The rise of populist, anti-establishment candidates should serve as a wake-up call. Otherwise, those riding the wave of discontent will take over.