The French elections in global context

Tue, 16 May 2017 10:38:15 +0000

By Alexander Bwalya Chikwanda

The decision for Britain to leave the European Union was opposed by 48% of British voters who tenaciously clung to sanity and wider vision but they were defeated by the majority whose platform was nationalism, as was the case in America. It appeared the forces of decadence were inexorably on the march with disdainful mandate to roll back the frontiers of international cooperation and set the world ablaze with trade wars and injurious restrictions in terms of free and unfettered movement of people, goods and services.

The defeat of nationalists in the Netherlands represented some slight hope. It was indeed a small light at the end of a long tunnel of despondency. For believers in world integration, anything that toned down the euphoria and exuberance of the forces of nationalism was a useful step forward.

Emmanuel Macron’s decisive victory in France was a boost for progressive forces.

It was not only a victory for France and Europe, but humanity. Nationalism in advanced countries is not only a bloat on endeavours to widen frontiers of our common humanity but an overt and huge plunge into darkness.

Macron will have an enormous challenge to marshal adequate support in Parliament because he does not have an organised and established party machinery and commensurate structures. The hope, and not a forlorn one, is that the progressive ideas that macron embodies will create a sustainable momentum that will propel France and Europe forward. The strong alliance between Germany and France will entail a stronger European union.

Europe should continue to be a beacon of enlighten and a pitch for relentless occupancy of moral high ground. Western Europe is a small corner of the world, scarcely bigger than the democratic republic of Congo. It accounts for only 5% of the world population but nearly 20% of the global gross domestic product and an impressive 30% of world trade.

For us on the African continent, the European union has been a reliable partner in our development endeavours. Disintegration of the European union would not be of any benefit to the world community. Globalisation, a nebulous short hand for free movement of people, goods, services and ideas, is said to be counterproductive to industries in domestic markets but this can only be attributable to local deformities.

Macron and whosoever may be elected in Germany, mostly likely Angela Merkel, should with due caution and circumspection push for rapid integration of the European Union and desist from too punitive a price from Brexit. Britain will always be historically, culturally and above all geographically, an integral part of Europe. There is always room for rethink after realisation that national egos have been overstretched. Europe is the best place and platform for Britain to Push its liberal ideas of free trade and democracy.

Macron is decidedly good for France, European union and the world. It is a moral imperative for all progressive forces to salute and encourage this young revolutionary.