Dear Editor,

The Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn phenonema over the last year suggested that socialism was gaining some traction, at least among the young who had hitherto been turned off politics altogether. But, at the same time, we have witnessed the same forces generating even larger support for the backward-looking xenophobic policies of both Trump and the Brexit ‘leave’ campaigners.

These are potentially exciting, but also dangerous times. Will it be socialism or barbarism?

Many have noted the parallels between Trump’s message and that of the Brexit ‘leave’ campaign which are nationalist/Conservative/populist, rather than simplistically right wing. Both build on the justified resentment that the majority/working classes feel about never-ending austerity, never-ending rule by big business and the banks making record profits whilst real wages and services have stagnated over the 30-plus years of neoliberal policies, made even more acute since the 2008 global financial crisis.

But instead of directing the anger towards the real culprit of unfettered capitalism and the capitalist state/supra-state structures that facilitate it, they blame immigration, internationalism and regulation/big government (including the European Union [EU]), suggesting that a return to “the good ol’ days“ of national libertarianism would make both the USA and Britain great again.

Even though such policies are right wing, in that capitalism would continue to dominate, both Trump and the Brexit ‘leave’ campaigners are opposed by many business leaders (as well as majorities in both Republican and Tory parties), because they would like to have their cake and eat it too. Whilst not shunning protectionism, they also know that inward-looking policies reduce profit-making possibilities through loss of both markets and cheap labour.

It is perhaps easier for the left in the USA than in the UK. They can oppose both Trump’s xenophobia, etc, and also Clinton’s pro-capitalism, even though Sanders’ social democratic policies don’t go far enough for many. In the UK, the ‘leave’ campaign won partly because the EU has always presented a dilemma for the left, including Corbyn.

Yes, the EU is proving ever more to be a pro-capitalist institution, but its social provisions and regulations have often been on the left of British policy, especially under Thatcher. Thus, Corbyn had a rather half-hearted ‘remain’ and reform campaign, knowing only too well that democratic reform and control of the EU could well be almost impossible.

With war and austerity-driven migration at a peak, the Brexit referendum came at exactly the wrong time leading to the overt xenophobia and racism that is now putting the clock back 50 years and making Britain a very dangerous place. At another time, Corbyn could well have led the principled, progressive EU exit campaign (across Europe?) to help break the neoliberal hegemony that is now creating a social and political as well as economic mayhem. As for the USA, Sanders warned the Democratic Party in an op-ed in The New York Times mere days after the Brexit vote that, unless it changes its ways and abandons its neoliberal policies, it will face the same far-right defeat seen in the UK.

Paul Ward

Campaign for Social & Economic Justice

Kingston 7

pgward72@gmail.com