Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1062629
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 DECEMBER 2018 NEWS ANALYSIS AFTER being heckled by left- wing Portuguese MEP Ana Gomes at the Party of Euro- pean Socialists conference in Lisbon, Prime Minister Jo- seph Muscat took the stage to promote his own brand of "progressive disruption" to his audience of counterparts and MEPs. In showcasing his re- markable achievements on the economy and civil liberties in Malta, he tried to project his local policies as a model for embattled European socialists. But can a Maltese model rooted in an island economy which exploits niches in the capitalist global economy to its advantage, be applied by a political family whose interna- tionalism is rooted in a critique of economic inequality? 1. We have to think outside our comfort zone "When a conservative takes one of our ideas he is called smart. When one of us takes a sensible policy from some- where else we call him a trai- tor." Muscat could have been more honest by giving some examples from his own con- siderable repertoire of appro- priating right-wing concepts to illustrate his point. Over the years he distinguished himself by thinking out of the box and exploiting some sec- tors which are anathema to many fellow socialists. These include the Individual Investor Programme which was widely condemned by the socialist family and his keen interest in promoting Malta as a hub for crypto-currencies and lately Artificial Intelligence. Yet Muscat shows a profound understanding of the deep chasm between the expecta- tions of European electorates and the sensitivities of the Eu- ropean left. "We have to admit that some of us were absorbed in debates which mean little to families who struggle to make ends meet… We have been talking to the mirror while people were asking different questions." Once again Muscat fails to give any examples of these use- less debates in a context where the political right also attacks the left as being out of touch with daily reality. The gist of Muscat's speech is that social- ists can only win when they can convince voters that in govern- ment they can secure a better living standard for voters. As an alternative Muscat coins a new catchphrase, pro- posing a "politics of progres- sive disruption" – "We are living in an era of political dis- ruption which has been fertile for others... It is time to start some disruption of our own." It is here that Muscat offers examples more in line with the socialist tradition, like in- troducing free childcare and turning Malta from a laggard in civil liberties to ranking first in ILGA's rainbow index. Not surprisingly it was this aspect which earned Muscat a well- deserved applause from the so- cialist audience. 2. We must embrace change, not oppose it "If politics was the music in- dustry we simply cannot hope that people will turn back to cassette tapes. We have to be- come the Spotify of politics not the Walkman of politics." Once again Muscat – a for- mer journalist who under- stands the media – excels in coining phrases which capture the imagination of his audi- ence. He even gives a personal twist referring to the "archaeo- logical curiosity" of his twins upon the discovery of an old Walkman in the attic. But using Muscat's own mu- sical analogy, doesn't the re- turn of the vinyl record also say something about our times being characterised by an in- creased appeal on the left of politicians like Bernie Sanders in the US and Jeremy Corbyn in the UK? Muscat does give a concrete example here by inviting fellow socialists to understand and embrace the changes brought about by Artificial Intelligence. "We progressives cannot af- ford to be the Luddites of the new industrial revolution… We should not oppose but em- brace change." In the short time at his dis- posal Muscat could not focus on the crucial issue of how AI can be harnessed to ensure that these serve the common good rather than sheer private interest. For the pitfall of tech- nological determinism is that business, rather than commu- nity interests, often drives it. In this aspect Muscat betrays his Blairite lineage, giving the impression that the division in the socialist camp is between old-fashioned ideological di- nosaurs and forward-looking business friendly pragmatists. In reality there are also those who endorse change but want to harness it differently. While Muscat speaks of "pro- gressive disruption" he is wary of disrupting business as usual when it comes to inequalities rooted in economic wealth and privilege. 3. We can still be patriotic in Europe "We want our countries to be stronger as it is by walking with others not walking alone that we are stronger." Once a Eurosceptic himself, Muscat now manages to con- vey a compelling narrative for socialist parties confronting increasingly nationalistic elec- torates. Yet his catchphrase once again skirts around the complexity of determining which policy areas require more Europe and which don't. Malta's tax competitiveness is a case in point. While some may argue that it is better for Malta's economy to walk alone in this aspect, other socialist colleagues may think that this is an area where Europeans are Five lessons of disruption, from JAMES DEBONO Is Muscat's Maltese model, which exploits niches in the capitalist global economy to its advantage, suitable to a political family rooted in a critique of economic inequality?