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U.S. Claims No Alternative to Larger Middle East War

by “Moon of Alabama”*

(2 February 2024) (Ed.) In the USA, too, readers of leading media outlets are guided in their opinion-forming with selected information on foreign policy. The investigative platform “Moon of Alabama” takes the time to scrutinise a recent analysis by Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for the “New York Times”. Is it necessary to bomb in Yemen or maintain military bases in Syria or Iraq? It becomes clear that Baker's selective choice of information makes the US government's policy appear to have no alternative: “There is no alternative”.

Today, «A-levels» mean guided thinking

Significance of the PISA study

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.

German war crimes

80th anniversary of the siege of Leningrad – 1,1 million dead

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.

Vietnam and “chip & bamboo diplomacy”

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.

Has neoliberalism eliminated liberalism?

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.

The World Economic Forum and the world “elite”

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.