About this Video

• Video Title: PART I: WTF Happened to Europe? Yanis Varoufakis, Grace Blakeley, Katie Halper & Melanie Schweizer
• Channel: DiEM25
• Speakers: Yanis Varoufakis, Katie Halper, Grace Blakeley, Melanie Schweizer, Maron KH (host)
• Duration: 01:37:23

Introduction

This DiEM25 video features a panel discussion exploring the state of Europe. The speakers analyze Europe's role in the Gaza conflict, its involvement in the Ukraine war, the rise of the far-right, and the overall decline of the European project. The video aims to diagnose the problems facing Europe and inspire viewers to fight back against the current trajectory.

Key Takeaways

• Europe's complicity in the Gaza conflict: The panelists criticize Europe's support for Israel during the Gaza conflict, highlighting its role in arming and shielding Israel. The destruction of Gaza and the high civilian death toll are condemned.
• Europe's militarization and the Ukraine war: The panel discusses Europe's significant investment in the Ukraine war, its reluctance to push for peace, and the resulting militarization of the continent. This is contrasted with the lack of investment in social programs.
• Rise of the far-right: The speakers address the growing influence of far-right parties across Europe, exploiting public anger over economic hardship and using anti-immigrant sentiment. Their ability to articulate a plan, however disturbing, is noted.
• The failure of the left: The panelists discuss the left's failures, including focusing too much on green initiatives at the expense of economic issues and failing to effectively mobilize the anger of the population. The need to connect with people at the community level is emphasized.
• Silencing dissent: The suppression of dissent, including instances of individuals being fired or prosecuted for expressing views critical of the government or Israel, is highlighted.

The panelists cite several reasons for the left's perceived failure to counter the far-right's rise:

• Overemphasis on green initiatives: The left prioritized green policies, neglecting crucial economic issues that fueled public discontent. This is exemplified by the Green New Deal, which was seen as ineffective and even counterproductive in some ways.

• Failure to connect with people on a community level: The left is criticized for focusing on abstract policy discussions and failing to engage directly with people in their communities. The far-right is more successful at building community-level support.

• Inability to mobilize anger effectively: The left failed to effectively channel widespread anger and frustration over economic inequality, austerity, and other issues. The far-right capitalized on this anger more effectively.

• Using language and concepts that are inaccessible to many: The left often employs terminology unfamiliar to many people, hindering their ability to connect with the broader public.

• Focusing on top-down solutions instead of bottom-up organization: The left is accused of prioritizing centralized power and top-down solutions, whereas the far-right is more successful at fostering bottom-up organization and community engagement.

The speaker, Yanis Varoufakis, argues that the Green New Deal was counterproductive because it focused too much on environmental concerns while neglecting the immediate economic needs of the population. He states that even when the ruling class adopts green initiatives as a last resort, they abandon them as soon as their own financial situation improves, long before the broader population sees any benefit. The Green New Deal, in his view, became a vacuous program that ultimately failed to deliver tangible results for the people and even alienated some voters who associated it with increased taxes and cost of living. In essence, the focus on the Green New Deal, without addressing immediate economic concerns, allowed the far-right to gain traction by capitalizing on public dissatisfaction.