The role of politics for The role of politics for social responsibility in a social responsibility in a

globalising worldglobalising world

New and old forums New and old forums of expression and actorsof expression and actors

Andreas Gross, Switzerland, M.P./CAndreas Gross, Switzerland, M.P./C oo EEwww.www.andigrossandigross..chch

Forum Strasbourg - Oct 2nd 2002Forum Strasbourg - Oct 2nd 2002

Democracy is the Democracy is the ground on which ground on which

responsibility responsibility may growmay grow

• • People are related to each otherPeople are related to each other

•• No responsibility without relationsNo responsibility without relations

• • The lack of responsibility has to be sanctionedThe lack of responsibility has to be sanctioned

• • That’s why you need a democratic polity (constitution) That’s why you need a democratic polity (constitution) in which all actors, also those who are «only» in which all actors, also those who are «only»

concerned, are connected with each otherconcerned, are connected with each other

Democracy has to be Democracy has to be constituted on the same level constituted on the same level

as the market in order to as the market in order to make it more respectfulmake it more respectful

• • 150 years ago you had a balance between the 150 years ago you had a balance between the national markets and national democraciesnational markets and national democracies

• • Today democracy lost power, the markets are less Today democracy lost power, the markets are less civilised and you have more and more irresponsibilitycivilised and you have more and more irresponsibility

The globalisation of the The globalisation of the markets can’t be reversed; markets can’t be reversed;

but democracy may be but democracy may be transnationally restored and transnationally restored and

even globalisedeven globalised

• • Democracy building started in towns and regions – Democracy building started in towns and regions – why should it end on the national levelwhy should it end on the national level ??

• • Democracy legitimises politics and policies – Democracy legitimises politics and policies – it does not create a stateit does not create a state

•• That’s why we need more democracy on the supra-state That’s why we need more democracy on the supra-state level too and share the people’s sovereignity between the level too and share the people’s sovereignity between the

local, regional, national, European and global levellocal, regional, national, European and global level

Progress and enlargement of Progress and enlargement of the democratic polity are the the democratic polity are the condition for social rights and condition for social rights and

responsibilityresponsibility

• • More democracy always means More democracy always means a new distribution of powera new distribution of power

• • That’s why new and better institutions That’s why new and better institutions need strong people’s movements to impose need strong people’s movements to impose

new democracy buildingnew democracy building

Democracy needs enlargement Democracy needs enlargement and in deepening to guarantee and in deepening to guarantee

social rights and responsibility in social rights and responsibility in the global economythe global economy

Priorities:Priorities:

• • European constitutionEuropean constitution

• • Globalising the «Strassbourg-model» to approach Globalising the «Strassbourg-model» to approach global democracyglobal democracy

• • Democratising democracy towards Direct DemocracyDemocratising democracy towards Direct Democracy