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Interview with Professor Hans-Peter Klein*
(2 February 2024) Hans-Peter Klein, professor of biology, is one of the most prominent voices in the German education debate. In an interview with Mathias Brodkorb**, he talks about the disastrous results of the PISA study, educationally disadvantaged migrants, and the abolition of the achievement principle.
by German Foreign Policy*
(25 January 2024) (Edit. CH-S) The human cost and the horror the German war of aggression of 1941 meant for the Russian civilian population is quickly forgotten in our days. Today, once more the enemy is officially called Russia.
The mass killing of the civilian population of Leningrad (St. Petersburg) by a starvation blockade, which was calculated ice-cold by the German political leadership at the time, was one of the sad highlights of German “master race” behaviour.
by Guy Mettan,* Geneva
(25 January 2024) In 2022, I published a major report on the economic transformations of Vietnam, notably visiting the large Vinfast electric car factory in Haiphong. A friendship has linked me to this country for twenty-five years. In the early 2000s, I had to go there multiple times to prepare a book on the Geneva Accords which ended the Indochina War in 1954 and I was able to meet a number of veterans of Dien-Bien-Phu, including the famous General Giap. The rapidity of the changes since then is fascinating.
by Suzette Sandoz,* Pully/Lausanne
(25 January 2024) (Ed.) On 5 December 2023, as part of the “Liberal Institute Freedom Festival” in Zurich, the presentation of the “Röpke Prize” to Professor Suzette Sandoz took place.
In her speech which we document below, Suzette Sandoz asks whether neoliberalism has eliminated liberalism. Her answer is: “almost”. According to her, neoliberalism is an economic doctrine aimed at dominating the world, far away from the humanist philosophy of liberalism. Its consequence being that in a neoliberal system, the economy no longer serves mankind, as envisaged by classical liberal philosophy, but mankind serves the economy, as a resource to be exploited as much as possible, without having to worry about social aspects.
by Wolfgang Bittner,* Germany
(25 January 2024) (Edit.) Is the WEF really a combination of capitalist consultancy firm and gigantic lobby? From 15 to 19 January, another meeting of the highly influential World Economic Forum (WEF) took place in Davos, attended by more than 2,800 participants, including over 60 heads of state and government. This time the motto was “Rebuilding Trust”. Author Wolfgang Bittner takes a dissecting look at this construction and its efforts to create a globalised, private-law, non-democratic world order.
by Pascal Lottaz*
(18 January 2024) A group of engaged citizens in Switzerland has started the process for a political initiative with the goal of writing a definition of the country’s signature foreign policy into its constitution. If the initiative is signed by 100’000 eligible voters by May 2024, this will lead to a mandatory referendum in a few years’ time. Although the effort is being supported by voters and activists from all parts of the country’s political spectrum, media reports tend to call the initiative “right wing”. In an effort to counter this narrative, we are publishing a letter of support from left- and green-voting citizens to demonstrate that there are many left-wing arguments to support this important political idea.