The document discusses the 2008 Lehman Brothers collapse and its implications. It argues that over the past 25 years, capitalism has changed with the rise of greater capital mobility globally and finance transforming from a helper to a driver of economic growth. The crisis presents an opportunity to regulate markets and finance to redistribute wealth through unions and dampen the crisis effects. However, developing realistic strategies and identifying social forces to enact change is important for potential alternatives to become reality.

17. [Lehman collapse, 15 September 2008 - headlines 16 Sep 2008]

38. Over the last quarter of a
century something
fundamental seems to have
changed in the way in which
capitalism works.
The tendency since 1970 has
been towards greater
geographical mobility of
capital.

39. Rather than being a modest
helper to the capital
accumulation process, [finance]
gradually turned into a driving
force.
Speculative finance became a
kind of secondary engine for
growth given the weakness in
the primary engine, productive
investment.

94. 94
Is there an alternative solution?
• The crisis gives an opportunity to disarm
financial capital and regulate the markets
• The public sector should be used to damp the
effects of the crisis and stabilise the economy
• A radical redistribution of wealth is necessary
• Only the trade union movement has the
potential to push solutions in this direction
• Potential is one thing, practice something else
– a formidable mobilisation will be necessary

95. 95
Need agency and strategies
• We need alternatives, but not without also
considering agency – who is going to carry out
the struggles – social forces, alliances
• Wishful thinking and arm-chair theories,
alternatives and models are easy to produce
• What is realistic, what is possible, how do we
prioritise – and how to we get there (strategies)?
• This is too little discussed on the left today

96. 96
Right wing populism/extremism
• The capitalist crisis creates a real basis for
alienation, exclusion, discontent and polarisation
• Workers feel betrayed by their ‘own’ politicians
• The extreme Right supports all discontent
and channels it in perverted political directions
• The only alternative: A policy of the left
which politicises the discontent and channels
it into real fights for collective solutions

97. 97
A strategy for the unions
• Alternative analyses – a system-critical view
• Building of new, broad social alliances
• Development of concrete alternatives
• Due to the party political misery, trade unions
must take a broader political responsibility
• Develop solidarity across all borders
• Create democratic and action-oriented unions
prepared for the confrontations which will come

98. 98
Emancipation is our goal!
• The (positive) effects of a class compromise can
never be more than a temporary achievement
• Emancipatory social policies presuppose
a huge shift in the balance of power in society
• Today, we demand too little and accept too much
• As authoritarian rule and oppression increase, our
response has to be bolder and more radical
• If the right to strike is restricted or banned, trade
unions have to win back the right in practise