Social and Ecological Sustainable Design of Economic Development a New Paradigm for Development in Asia “ but You Will Only Agree with Me

4th Edition / April 2012

Social and Ecological Sustainable Design of Economic Development A New Paradigm for Development in Asia “ But you will only agree with me

that we have to draw up a programme which is not exclusively socialist but also democratic. Otherwise we cannot claim the name of Social Democrats and think about a solution of the social question” (August Bebel, 1869) Editor in Chief: Amir Effendi Siregar

Deputy Editor: Ivan Hadar

Editorial board: Martin Manurung Charles Santiago Table of Content Mian Manurung Francis Isaac Greetings [4]

Toward Economy with Social-ecological Editor/Publisher address: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Dimensions: ASIA HAS TO TAKE LEAD [6] Jalan Kemang Selatan II No. 2A Jakarta 12730 Redeeming Ideology [11] Phone: +62-21-7193711 Fax : +62-21-717 91358 Towards left of centre [14] Email: [email protected]

Narrating the Future Publisher: *) An Examination of Neil Postman’s Building a Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Bridge to the 18th Century [17]

ISSN: 2086-3713 Dismantling Coronarroyo,

Sustaining the Momentum of Change [22] *) soft file available in www.socdem.asia

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page from the editors

Comrades, of the neoliberal paradigm and the weak- In this publication, you’ll find some re- ness of progressive movements in most sults of the Conference by Network of Social countries, how can Socialdemocrats put Democrats in Asia, July 2011, in Ulan Bator/ forward their agenda of development? Mongolia. The conference theme was “So- Has poverty worsened or improved after cial and Ecological Sustainable Design of the Asian financial crisis and the failure of Economic Development – A New Paradigm structural adjustment programs? Why are for Development in Asia”.All participants heavily financed social systems still be- agreed that “only via balance between ing challenged in Europe where shifts have economic growth, social justice, and envi- already been implemented as in Agenda ronmental sustainability can we guarantee 2010 and the Reform of the Welfare State? development and prosperity for all”. Are there spaces being opened if we ex- plore an economic model that is “green”? Special questions for many Asian coun- The discussion was on building a modern- tries are as follow: Given the dominance izing economic framework that will create

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page from the editors

cross-cutting solutions for social and envi- above all, to the production of public goods ronmental problems. It attempts to balance like health service, education, public trans- urgent practical needs of jobs, food to long- port, infrastructure. As the citizens must term sustainability issues of security and behave in accordance with the system, conservation. the state, too, in the form of government organizations and the public service at the The social market economy is one in national and regional levels, must respect which social concerns are accorded the the Social and Ecological Economic Model same importance as economic concerns. rules established and sanctioned by major- Faced with contemporary environmental ity decision. challenges, the social market economy must of necessity become an ecologically Sustainability is a long run, people-cen- oriented economy. But the ecological ori- tered concept. There have been many at- entation should not dilute the traditional tempts to define sustainability, but most social market economy “brand”. The eco- are rooted in the general concept of inter- logical ingredients of the social and ecologi- generational equity. Social and ecological cal market economy are as important as its sustainable development means meeting market elements and social characteristics. the needs and wants of people of the cur- However, if the market does not work and if rent generation while leaving equal or bet- economic policy is not combined with pre- ter opportunities for people of generations ventive and compensatory social policy, the to follow. What is to be sustained? -- devel- ecological dimension cannot be effectively opment of resources: natural, human, and incorporated into a social market economy. economic. What is the purpose of develop- So, the terms market, social, and ecological ment? -- positive change or human prog- should chime with each other as equally es- ress, not necessarily growth in numbers or sential elements in a melodious triad. size. Who is to benefit from such development? -- people of the current generation The government must clearly espouse and of generations to follow. For how many the Social and Ecological Economic Model, generations is development to be sus- expressing its commitment to prosperity, tained? -- for all future generations, forever. social justice, and ecological protection, Thus, sustainability is about sustaining a while recognizing its own intervention lim- desirable quality of life for people, forever. its. The state’s active economic role refers,

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page nal r e Jou e h

T Toward Economy with Social-ecological Dimensions: ASIA HAS TO TAKE LEAD1

IVAN A. HADAR2

The Calls During the World Economic Forum in Davos, last January, UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has called for “Revolutionary Action” to achieve sustainable development and warned at the same time that “the past century’s heedless consumption of resources is a global suicide pact with time running out to ensure an economic model for survival”.3 At the same forum, the European Union (EU) has called on member states to double investment in renewable energy to reach the target of having 20 percent of the region’s energy come from renewable sources by ernment is committed to policies that bal- 2020. Currently only three states -- Germa- ance growth and environmental protection. ny, Hungary and Sweden -- have met their Echoing the words of the UN Secretary-gen- 2010 interim goals for renewable energy for eral, he said: “We should not make a con- both electricity and transport, according to tradiction between growth and the need to the regional bloc.4 protect the environment.” Economic growth Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang has to be “inclusive” so that it benefits all Yudhoyono, has also declared that his gov- sectors of the population.5 In his 2011 State of the Union address, 1 Presented in Conference of Asian SocDem in U.S. President Barack Obama laid out also Ulaanbataar, 1-2 July 2011 an agenda for investment, innovation, jobs 2 Editor Journal SocDem Indonesia/Asia 3 UN News Centre, January 28, 20011 4 European Commission, January 2011 5 Media Indonesia, January 24, 2011

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page and American competitiveness, planning is the problem. We need a healthy natural

an ambitious proposal to transform the environment as a context for our lives. We nal r nation’s energy infrastructure away from need to produce, exchange, and consume the technologies used for more than 100 goods and services. But precisely because years -- inefficient and polluting coal-fired we need both, preoccupation with either e Jou e

power plants -- toward new, clean energy one, when the other is not in view, can be h sources.6 disastrous.9 T More concrete coming from The Repub- Realistically, in the past half century at lic of Korea (South Korea), which recently least, attention has been overwhelmingly initiated a Green Growth Plan, worth 852 focused on economy. The arguments have million U.S. dollars, building a network of been about how to increase production, bicycle paths stretching over 3,100 kilo- exchange, and consumption of goods and meters throughout the country, giving the services. Some economists argued that a technologically thriving area a “competi- centralized bureaucracy could plan eco- tive advantage”.7 nomic growth most effectively. Others as- However, all the calls, plans and small serted that a market free from government concrete steps are not enough. Then the interference would grow more rapidly. Most only way climate change can be securely economies have in fact had elements of addressed is by bringing together the pil- both, but on the whole giving more free- lars of sustainable development, namely dom to entrepreneurs has proved more economic growth, environmental issues and effective. social concerns in one common framework. This debate among economists has in “Not only should emissions be reduced by general presupposed that natural resources 50 percent, it should also be done in an eq- are not limited. In the West, the dominant uitable fashion, and allowing prosperity at school of neo-liberal economists is often the same time,” Ban Ki-moon said.8 quite explicit about this. It believes that technological advance will handle any The Tension problems that arise from natural shortages. Too often in recent decades, the two big There are no limits to growth. The more rap- “e” words -- ecology and economy -- have idly we increase production, exchange, and been used as though they represented op- consumption the better. Since larger mar- posing concerns. Today, when we think of kets speed economic growth, the ideal is a ecology, the household in question is the single global market. We need not deal with biosphere, primarily the natural environ- environmental problems in terms of public ment. When we think of the economy, we policy, since the market will take care of think of the human production, exchange, them. For example, as petroleum becomes and consumption of goods and services. The expensive, other sources of energy, which two topics are treated in such a way that are now more costly, will become competi- they hardly touch each other. And there tive. Then they will be widely used.10 Those who look at the world ecologi-

6 www.whitehouse.gov/state-of-the-union-2011 7 The Associated Press; September 22, 2009 9 John B. Cobb, Jr, 2002 8 UN News Centre, January 28, 20011 10 Articlesbase, September 19, 2010

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page cally see things quite differently. Air, water, for food. Encouragement of reducing con-

nal and soil are being poisoned. The heating of sumption cuts directly against the econo- r the atmosphere leads to increased storms mist’s interest in endless growth.12 and more erratic weather. Those who see Actually there is a third important voice things this way urge that, at a minimum, in the contemporary debate. This is the e Jou e

h we should focus on conservation of scarce voice that speaks for fairness. The commu-

T resources, reduction of pollution, and tech- nity has no value in neo-liberal economic nological innovations that will enable us to thinking. The empirical and historical fact adjust to a post-petroleum economy. is that the market favors the rich over the So far, the economists are victorious. All poor and tends to concentrate wealth in societies make some concessions to the fewer and fewer hands. ecologists, but only when these are not too Of course, without the high level of na- costly in economic terms. Economic growth tional production, the wealth would not is the organizing principle of society. The have been available to distribute. But it is educational system is in its service. We disingenuous to describe the market as the judge governments primarily in terms agent of a fair distribution. Although econ- of how rapidly nations grow under their omists dispute this, the evidence is that the policies. market left to itself does very little for the Despite this, ecologists are sure that, at poor. We all know, that left to itself the mar- a more fundamental level, economists are ket worsens the condition of the poor. wrong. They point out the high social and We all know now, economy and ecol- ecological costs of past technological solu- ogy cannot be separated. Ecological fallout tions to the production of food, such as the from economic development is in no way Green Revolution, and the unsustainability an “externality” as the economic jargon has of its practices as oil becomes scarce. The it; it is a positive depletion of real wealth, of proposed technological solution through human and natural capital. genetic manipulation will solve some prob- It is time to look seriously at the full im- lems at the expense of generating others. plications of this. We need to start by rec- The whole system becomes more and more ognizing that social collapse is a real possi- precarious. Meanwhile aquifers are ex- bility. When we speak about environmental hausted and rivers run dry.11 crisis, we are not to think only of spiraling The technological solution of desaliniza- poverty and mortality, but about brutal tion of ocean water and pumping it to the and uncontainable conflict. An economics fields is so expensive in energy that its rel- that ignores environmental degradation evance is minimal. Creating plants that can invites social degradation -- in plain terms, survive with reduced water goes in just the violence.13 opposite direction from the green revolution. A new mindset is needed, one that locates The Imperative food production in the wider ecological and To change the mindset, in an academic social context and involves consideration of perspective the shift from the ‘Keynesian how the affluent can reduce their demands

12 John B. Cobb, Jr, 2002 11 Rowan Williams, 2005 13 John B. Cobb, Jr, 2002

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page welfare state’ to the ‘Schumpeterian welfare How about China, India, Asia as a

state’, will put the future focus of social and whole? nal r economic policies will lie on the promotion It will take decades to accept that the of meaningful social and environmental axis of global economy has shifted to Asia. innovations. The wise coordination of inno- The current global recession [or is it a e Jou e

vation, technology and education policies deep depression] is being attempted to be h plays are key factors in creating good living cured by the conservatives and liberals in T and working conditions for future societies, the USA and Europe in their own old-fash- especially for an emerging economy like ioned ways. Asia. Allow the markets to recover with a gen- An exampel from Indonesia: This coun- tle nudge from government, say the con- try is currently facing a twin challenge re- servatives, while the liberals want strong garding the sustainability of its economy. government intervention of a Keynesian It is the third largest contributor to green- type. Obama says these differences are no house gas emissions in the world1 and a more important — it is more about the ef- country with an unemployment rate of 7.4 fectiveness of the government rather than percent in 2010.2 Should Indonesia’s eco- size. This is dialogue without substance. nomic growth improve in the future, it is In the midst of all this gloom, a news re- likely that it is going to be conducted at the port says that China has become the third- cost of environmental sustainability.14 largest global economy, pushing Germany With 9.4 million hectares of palm oil aside. Also, India and China are still expect- plantations, Indonesia is one of the lead- ing to grow at more than 6% this fiscal and ing countries in the production of palm oil may continue in the same way the next products. The world demand for palm oil fiscal when the developed economies are products is rising driven by demands for struggling between negative growth and edible oils, cosmetics and biofuels. Indo- marginally positive numbers.16 nesia currently has 9.4 million hectares of But this won’t be linear transformation. palm oil plantations. Indonesia currently In the known human history, this is the first leads the world’s palm oil production with time that Asia (especially, China and India, 22,090,000 metric tons, followed by Malay- Japan, South Korea, ASEAN) are going to sia with 18,200,000 metric tons.39 Never- gain dominance in the economic affairs theless, the production of palm oil is closely of the world. However it’s an imperative for associated with conflicts, and greenhouse Asia to take lead in the new paradigm. gas emissions from forest clearance. There- At the heart of the international concern fore, the challenge for determining the mit- is the discussion of rich and poor nations igation value of palm oil needs to be con- who should step up first and who should ducted through the whole of its lifecycle, pay for a change in the energy menu. His- comparing emissions before and after palm torically the responsibility lies with the rich oil plantations.15 countries. However, the current growth of emissions mostly takes place in develop- ing countries. But these nations are still in

14 Kleden & Kauppert, 2011 15 Kleden & Kauppert, 2011 16 The New York Times, August 15, 2010

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page a much poorer situation, so that the world -- who would be, so to speak, in credit as to

nal must be given them the possibility to grow their entitlements, so as to assist them in r further until a certain point. ecologically sustainable development.19 We have to return constantly to what sort of structures and sanctions might as- LITERATURE, WEBSITES e Jou e

h sist in making effective a change in our mo-

T tivations and myths. We could imagine, for http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocus/ instance, a “charter” of rights in relation to sgspeeches/ the environment -- that we should be able to live in a world that still had wilderness http://ec.europa.eu/ spaces, that still nurtured a balanced va- riety of species, that allowed us access to The Associated Press; September 22, 2009, unpoisoned natural foodstuffs. South Korean President pushes Green It may be that the time is ripe for an Growth, attempt at a comprehensive statement of this, a new United Nations commitment - Articlesbase, September 19, 2010, Effect of - a “Charter of Rights to Natural Capital” to Economic to Ecology which governments could sign up and by which their own practice and that of the Paskal Kleden & Philipp Kauppert, An As- nations in whose economies they invested sessment in Supporting Green Jobs in could be measured.17 Indonesia, FES 2011 A manageable first step relating par- ticularly to carbon emissions, supported by Archbishop calls for action on environment a wide coalition of concerned parties, is of to head off social crisis - Ecology and course the “contraction and convergence”18 Economy, March 8, 2005 proposals initially developed by the Global Commons Institute in London. This involves www.global-greenhouse-warming. granting to each nation a notional “entitle- com/contraction-and-convergence ment to pollute” up to an agreed level that is credibly compatible with overall goals for Amanda Briney, History and Overview of managing and limiting atmospheric pollu- the Green Revolution, May 5, 2010 tion. Those nations that exceed this level would have to pay pro rata charges on their Rowan Williams, Ecology and the economy excess emissions. The money thus raised go hand in hand, Seattlepi.Com, April would be put at the service of low-emission 23, 2005 nations or could presumably be plowed back into poor but high-emission nations John B. Cobb, Jr, Ecology and Economy, Shanghai 2002

17 Ecology and Economy - Archbishop calls for action on environment to head off social crisis 18 Contraction and Convergence is the framework for Greenhouse gas control proposed to the UNFCCC since the early 1990’s by GCI. 19 Global Greenhouse Warming.Com

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 10 nal r e Jou e h T

Redeeming Ideology By Steven Sim

Today we take freedom for granted. I from its philosophical and political context. do not mean we have a lot more freedom To want freedom without ideology is like and are not being appreciative. Rather, it wanting to be clean without taking a bath. is a very popular thing to “fight for free- It is like wanting to be fit without exercise dom”; everyone is advocating freedom and or to have a baby without sex. To talk about demanding freedom. It seems that in the freedom and to want freedom without first modern democratic society such as ours, asking the difficult questions about what it one can do no wrong advocating freedom. means is mere rhetoric. Or can one? Freedom is not a neutral word and we The problem with the current trend should not take for granted that it means of talking about freedom is that we usu- the same thing to everyone. Political dis- ally discuss the concept detached from the course on freedom, therefore, must be more framework of ideology. If previously, free- nuanced than simply stating a general de- dom and rights were discussed against ide- sire for freedom. Further questions must ological backdrops, today with the distaste eventually be asked; freedom for whom and of ideology, freedom is being uprooted from whom? And can we quantify freedom

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 11 to say how much freedom is freedom? In closing in on us?”

nal the complex world of human relationships, We must understand that the lack of r how do we negotiate our freedom against ideology is not just an empty space, but a the freedom of the others? Should the mar- downward spiral and slippery slope where ket, a collective entity which is at the same anything goes, where any competing ideol- e Jou e

h time real and abstract, be granted freedom ogies can apply. To return to our discussion

T similar to freedom granted to an individual on wanting freedom without ideology, it is person? like wanting a baby without sex. Even if you The answers to these questions depend do not want to do it – the sex – someone very much on the values of the one who else will have to do for you it if you want answers them, in other words, the person’s a baby. It is naive to think we can skip the ideology. process and still achieve the result. Thus, by denying ideology and refusing The danger of the indiscriminate rejec- to deal with ideology, we not only create a tion of ideology is clearly recorded for us in vacuum for confusion but also the opportu- modern history. In early twentieth century nity to set up an oppressive state. Rejecting China, ideological vacuum left by the fall ideology does not mean it will go away. In- of its 2,000-year-old monarchy was filled stead, the ideological vacuum will be filled by warlords who would rule over a divided by, yes, ideology. In other words, we reject China for more than a decade before the ideology only to be deeply submerged in rise of the communist party. In Europe, the ideology. ideological vacuum created by the collapse The effect of the abandonment of ideol- of imperial Germany was filled by Adolf ogy is like what Nietzsche described in his Hitler and his fascist philosophy. The fall parable of the madman. In the parable, god of the Iron Curtain in the late eighties and represented the overarching metanarrative along with it, the discredit of twentieth cen- of the Western civilisation – its ideology. tury communism, created an ideological Nietzsche’s protagonist, the madman, an- vacuum which was eventually occupied by nounced the “death of god” and proceeded unfettered global capitalism, a major cause to paint a vivid picture of an anarchic, con- of the financial crises we are facing today. fused and disoriented state of affairs: “Politics hates a vacuum,” said the award- “Who gave us the sponge to wipe winning bestselling author Naomi Klein, “If away the entire horizon? What it isn’t filled with hope, someone will fill it were we doing when we unchained with fear.” this earth from its sun? Where is it Sadly, today, like sex, ideology has be- moving now? Where are we moving? come a bad word to many. This is because Away from all suns? Are we not we are living in a world where the belief pre- plunging continually? Backward, vails that neutrality is not only possible, but sideward, forward, in all directions? a virtue. Yet it is precisely by our surrender- Is there still any up or down? Are we ing of ideology that the powers that be are not straying, as through an infinite able to convince the people to leave the nothing? Do we not feel the breath details to them. The problem is, ideology is of empty space? Has it not become here to stay, whether we acknowledge it or colder? Is not night continually not. And when we refuse to deal with the

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 12 details, we risk not only failing to achieve the problem of who is really free? All of us

our goal, but more tragically, we may end act within an ideological framework, wheth- nal r up in an oppressive state. er we realised it or not. The question is not In the case of freedom, today more and how do we avoid it, but how do we critically more people are talking about it, but in one evaluate the ideological choices offered to e Jou e

sense, we are much more restricted com- us, especially in politics, to achieve the best h pared to before. Of course our restriction course of action possible. T may no longer be caused by a superstruc- The future of politics lies in the people ture, an authoritarian patriarchal state or a having adequate understanding about ide- societal superego. The loss our freedom is ology and political values - the fine print, much more subtle, so subtle that like the if you like - not some fuzzy concepts of frog boiled in slow temperature, we may not freedom and democracy, in order to decide notice it, and worse, we may actually begin for themselves what the best form of gover- to enjoy the slow process of simmering to nance is. If we leave the matters of freedom death. and rights to the politicians, then we risk Take for example how we rejected paren- getting nothing in the end, or worse, get- tal figures but are regulated by a strict diet ting the exact opposite. These concepts, programme to “finish up our greens”. We re- we must always remember, do not occur jected all sorts of authorities but are bound in ideological vacuum. Read the label and by a regiment of exercise and health supple- watch out for the fine print, mothers used ments. We rejected objective morality but to say, because the devil is in the details. subject ourselves to every kind of political I think it is time we start listening to good correctness so as to not offend anyone. And advice once again. finally, we rejected legitimate government Steven Sim is a local government coun- regulation only to be confronted by in- cillor of Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai equality due to the fact that some of us are (Province Wellesley Municipal Council), the freer than others, or have more power, more largest municipality in Malaysia. He was wealth or a better head start. The paradox formerly the secretariat of SOCDEM Asia. of freedom is thus; when everyone is said to This article is taken from a chapter in his be equally free, we will be confronted with upcoming book “The Audacity to Think”.

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 13 Dismantling Coronarroyo, Sustaining the Momentum of Change Speech for the 14th Year Anniversary of AKBAYAN Citizens Action Party 23 January 2012, Pugad Lawin Hall, Quezon City Sports Club, Quezon City

delivered by Arlene Bag-ao, a member of the House of Representatives - AKBAYAN Party

(Editor’s Note: In recent years, AKBAYAN has emerged as one of the most successful democratic Left parties in the Philippines. With its two representatives in the legislature and several appointees in the bureaucracy (including one Cabinet member), AKBAYAN has initiated several campaigns designed to promote greater transparency in government and exact accountability from the former President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo who has been charged with several cases of corruption and election sabotage.

Recently, the party (along with its allies in the ruling coalition) has called for the ouster of Arroyo-appointee Supreme Court Chief Magistrate Renato Corona. The charges

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 14 Dismantling Coronarroyo, Sustaining the Momentum of Change

include exhibiting favor and leniency towards former President Arroyo, as well as failing to disclose to the public his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SLAN). During the impeachment trial, the prosecutors were able to reveal that Corona has approximately Php39.1 million ($978,000.00) deposited in PS Bank—an amount which is way below the Php9.1 million indicated in his SLAN. In addition, Corona has yet to explain how he was able to acquire several houses amounting to millions of pesos with a modest salary of Php46,200.00 ($1,155.00).

Such disparities have prompted AKBAYAN Representative to file a forfeiture case against the Chief Justice. Another AKBAYAN Representative, Arlene Bag-ao, has also taken an important in the ongoing impeachment trial since she is one of the legislative prosecutors against Corona. The speech below was delivered by Representative Bag-ao during AKBAYAN’s 14TH Year Anniversary celebration and offers some of her reflections on the still ongoing impeachment case.)

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 15 I welcome this invitation to speak before defense cleverly and maliciously put in you today as a refreshing break from the place by former President Gloria Macapa- intense preparation sessions of our team gal-Arroyo, by impeaching her appointed of lawyers for the prosecution of Articles 3 Ombudsman Merceditas “Merci” Gutierrez.1 and 4 of the Articles of Impeachment. To Merci and her cabal single-handedly frus- be quite honest about it, I feel a bit of the trated all attempts to make GMA account- nerves due to the immensity of the chal- able for the various graft and corruption lenge before me, as well as the high expec- charges against her. It took almost half a tations that our people have from the pros- year, thanks to the Temporary Restraining ecutors in the impeachment trial of Chief Order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court, Justice Renato Corona. But since I do not for us in the House of Representatives to see the now-familiar faces of the Defense overwhelmingly impeach her. Panel—former Justice Serafin Cuevas, my Without us firing a single shot in the former teacher Atty. Jack Jimenez in the halls of the Senate, Ombudsman Merce- hall, I do not expect to be interrupted by any objection, technical or otherwise. 1 Merceditas Gutierrez, who is believed to be The year 2011 will be remembered as a close friend of the Arroyo family, was ap- the year of reckoning against the corrupt pointed as Ombudsman on December 1, 2005. past of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA). A numerous street protests demanding her ouster, Gutierrez was finally impeached by the Nine years of exacting accountability from House of Representatives (the Lower House Arroyo’s acts of plunder and corruption. of the Philippine legislature) on March 22, We began the year 2011 with a full- 2011. But before the Senate can even begin its impeachment trial, Gutierrez resigned from court press to dismantle the first line of her post a month later on April 29.

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 16 ditas Gutierrez succumbed to the tremen- parents, Ka Pepe and Tita Nene and Philip’s dous pressure both from the public and siblings and friends. After more than a from the strength of the Articles of Im- decade and a half of constant and unwav- peachment against her. Thus, GMA’s first ering push to make the wheels of justice line of defense crumbled. And because of turn, they will have their day in court and this historic victory in our mission to make the first step towards achieving justice has GMA accountable for her crimes against the been taken. Filipino people, she is now facing charges AKBAYAN’s critical role in the impeach- for the anomalies that she and her admin- ment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez istration committed. These are just the first cannot be denied. Risa Hontiveros, together gains that we are reaping from Merci’s im- with Gen. Danny Lim and Ka Pepe and Nene peachment. More are still to come. Pestaño filed the impeachment complaint. At this point let me share to you a Rep. Walden Bello and myself endorsed the personal anecdote, one that is close to complaint and successfully advocated for AKBAYAN’s heart. When the Articles of Im- it in the House Committee on Justice. AK- peachment against Ombudsman Meceditas BAYAN, likewise, took the leadership in the were being drafted, one article was consid- public campaign for Merci’s ouster together ered by many as the weakest—the case with our allies in the Oust Merci Gutierrez of Ensign Phillip Pestaño.2 n fact, nobody Movement (OMG). was willing to prosecute the article except With all candor and humility, I claim for the AKBAYAN team who insisted on its with pride that we, in AKBAYAN, were in the inclusion. We prepared long and hard to frontlines of that battle against the corrupt prosecute it in the Senate trial but because and inept pawn of GMA and we prevailed. of Merci’s resignation, we were denied the We have won a battle, we still have a war opportunity to prove its relevance to the to win. The next battle has begun and AK- impeachment case. The recent filing of BAYAN’s banner is still waving in the front- murder charges against the 10 suspects in lines. In this battle, we stand face-to-face the murder of Ensign Philip Pestaño by the with GMA’s last line of defense, the stron- Office of the Ombudsman led by Conchita gest, brightest and the most loyal among Carpio-Morales is a vindication, not only for her generals, GMA’s former Chief-of-Staff us in AKBAYAN but more importantly for his and now her acting “Secretary of Defense”: Chief Justice Renato Corona. Much as I want to share with you my 2 Philip Pestaño is a Navy ensign who was found thoughts on the merits of the Articles of dead inside his ship cabin on September 27, Impeachment against Chief Justice Renato 1995. Navy officials dismissed the incident as homicide; but Pestano’s family insists that Corona, I am gagged. Let me instead share he was murdered, alleging that the ensign with you my thoughts and reflections on discovered that the cargo being loaded onto the impeachment of the Chief Justice with- his vessel included illegally cut logs, several sacks of shabu and weapons which were o be out dealing and arguing on the merits. sold to the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. The Last January 16 in the morning, a few Pestaño family filed one of several impeach- hours before the impeachment trial in the ment complaints against Gutierrez after her Senate began, Chief Justice Corona deliv- office decided to dismiss the murder charges filed against several Navy officials. ered a fiery speech commenting on various

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 17 points of the Articles of Impeachment and one is in a hurry to become vice-president even discussed at length each of the 45 but lost in the election and finally the third, land titles listed and released by the Land has the ambition to become Chief Justice. Registration Authority. He admitted owning CJ Corona is right. He is right about the some and denied the others. I was taken existence of a conspiracy but he got his aback when he enumerated each of the numbers wrongs. It is not a conspiracy of points despite the gag order against him. three, neither is it a conspiracy of 188.4 I To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised daresay it is a “Conspiracy of Millions”—a by his show of resolve to argue his own case conspiracy of Filipinos conspiring to remove that I thought he was willing to testify on him from the post which he abused. his own behalf. But this was proven wrong, It is not a conspiracy to force the Su- when his defense objected to the prosecu- preme Court to its knees and follow the will tion’s request for the issuance of subpoena of a dictatorship but rather a conspiracy for the Chief Justice and his family to tes- of millions of people who are desperate to tify before the Impeachment Court. Their restore the independence of the Supreme objection was sustained. I am tempted to Court and free it from any undue influence. present arguments against the ruling here It is a conspiracy of Filipinos who are re- but I am constrained. claiming the Supreme Court from the clasps But if the Chief Justice is really serious of the claws of Corona’s sovereign, Gloria about defending himself and personally Macapagal-Arroyo. This is a conspiracy of challenge the accusations against him, I the Filipino people intent on reclaiming challenge him to take the witness stand the Supreme Court from the Coronarroyo when the turn of the defense to present Conspiracy. evidence comes. It will give him the oppor- Chief Justice Corona claims that his im- tunity to do what he is doing outside the peachment is all about Hacienda Luisita. Impeachment Court—rebutting the pieces Perhaps, Chief Justice Corona has forgotten of evidence and testimony one by one. The that we in AKBAYAN have been working with witness stand will also give him a bonus. the farmworkers of Hacienda Luisita and the It will also give him the pleasure and op- Department of Agrarian Reform precisely to portunity to personally show how inept and make its distribution a reality. Perhaps the inexperienced we, in the prosecution, are. Chief Justice does not know that among the ranks of the private prosecutors in his im- Let me go to another highlight of his peachment trials are several lawyers of the defiant January 16 speech. Hacienda Luisita farmers and farmworkers. In his January 16 speech, Chief Justice In trying to sell his theory, the Chief Justice Renato Corona bared what is now called “The has conveniently forgotten that the Haci- Conspiracy of 3”. He said it is a conspiracy enda Luisita case was argued and won by of three persons: one wants to prevent the the farmers together with the Department distribution of Hacienda Luisita,3 the other of Agrarian Reform.

3 Hacienda Luisita is a 6,435-hectare sugar plantation estate located in the province of Tarlac, and owned by the family of the current 4 The number 188 refers to the 188 representa- President, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. tives who voted for Corona’s impeachment.

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 18 Ladies and Gentlemen, in my experi- move and listening to every word you utter ence all trials can become dull and boring is really intimidating. with very few dramatic and explosive mo- The defense panel is indeed a Dream ments that are too far in between. In the Team and their strength lie in their more absence of drama and explosive action, it is than 300 years of combined litigation very easy to lose focus on the reasons why experience. there is an impeachment trial. In this age However, no amount of trial experience of reality shows, I cannot blame the pub- can compensate for the defense’s great- lic watching the impeachment trial live on est disadvantage: their client Chief Justice national television to shift their focus and Corona. take notice of the different realities hap- Dear friends and comrades, this battle pening in the Senate floor. In the eyes of must not only be fought by the prosecutors the very critical public, it is not only the ac- in the Impeachment Court. The battlefield cused, the impeached Chief Justice who is is not just the plenary hall of the Senate on trial, but the prosecutors and the sena- where we have to win hearts and minds of tor-judges, as well. the senator-judges. We also have to wage In the first week of the impeachment tri- battle in the public sphere to win the hearts al, the contrast between the defense team, and minds of the people. We need your help composed mainly of high-caliber and expe- in breaking the barriers of legalese and tech- rienced veteran litigation lawyers, and the nicalities in the Senate floor and help ordi- prosecution team composed mainly of poli- nary people understand the proceedings. ticians who have spent most of their time in The impeachment process is but a battle elective public offices and outside the court that we need to wage to win the war against room gained the attention of the public. corruption. For us in AKBAYAN, our mission We, in the prosecution, became objects of goes way beyond this. The present conjunc- criticism and the harsh Filipino sense of hu- ture provides us with a fertile and favor- mor especially in cyberspace. I shall offer able political environment to push for the neither denials nor explanations. changes that we have been fighting for. I admit, that in terms of litigation ex- A wave of change is coming. Those who perience, we in the prosecution, especially cling to the ways of the past and of the GMA the public prosecutors are the underdog. administration, be forewarned. Do not stand In fact most of us in the prosecution team in the way. were once students of those in the defense Kapag AKBAYAN ang Lumaban, Panalo panel. In that respect alone we are oceans ang Mamamayan. (When AKBAYAN fights, apart. Moreover, prosecuting a case with the people wins.) millions of viewers watching your every

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 19 nal r

e Jou e Towards h T left of centre By Liew Chin Tong*)

The ultimate and only game plan of Barisan Nasional (BN) is to destroy the alternative, Pakatan Rakyat. Without a viable alternative, BN will be perpetually in power. But the moment there is a credible alternative, no one can rule out the possibility of a change of government. BN is attempting three very different acts at the same time: to put Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim behind bars in the hope of finishing off Pakatan Rakyat and Parti Ke- adilan Rakyat; to get PAS to form a unity government with BN; demonize DAP on one hand and yet on the other hand, strangely enough, hoping that DAP will join BN. BN strategists are an increasingly con-

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 20 nal r e Jou e h fused lot. They have alternately accused the DAP’s political stand has always been T DAP of being the spokesman for Chinese, to speak up for all Malaysians. In the his- Christians, or chauvinists, in an attempt tory of the party, DAP not only has elected to stoke Malay hatred against the DAP and representatives from three major races, it turn the Malays against Pakatan Rakyat. also is the party with the highest number of Since Umno’s July 2005 General Assem- Indian elected representatives in this Par- bly, the party continues to move further liamentary session. away from the centre and is taking extreme Admittedly, there was a time when the positions. party’s supporters mainly comprised Chi- In the 14 years between Mahathir’s 1991 nese, and many party events seemed to announcement of Vision 2020 and the July have a more Chinese flavor. 2005 General Assembly when it resurrected Our next challenge is how to broaden the New Economic Policy, Umno’s gentle the DAP’s national appeal and reach out to stand towards non-Malays won it much all races with the DAP’s message. support in the 1995, 1999 and 2004 Gen- Lim Guan Eng’s launch of the Malay-lan- eral Elections. guage website Roketkini.com was premised Post-2005 Umno and its mouthpieces on this purpose. It is hoped that this web- Utusan Malaysia and Perkasa have al- site will attract more young, urban Malays ready given up winning over non-Malays, and readers of the Malay language from all especially after the March 8, 2008 general races to create a new political culture and election. build a common political ground. But playing the racial card may not win The economic reality of contemporary Umno too many votes. BN’s most success- Malaysia requires Pakatan Rakyat and the ful election performances in 1995 and 2004 DAP to take a left turn as far as our eco- were not riding on the back of increased nomic vision is concerned. Equality and Malay votes, but were attributed to its suc- solidarity should be placed at the forefront cessful portrayal of opposition parties as of the economic discourse. extremists, while portraying Umno as cen- The Singaporean electoral upset and the trists in a race-based political universe. uprising in the Middle East since early this While claiming that it defends the Ma- year share three common factors, namely lays, Umno has been powerless to solve the inequality, inflation and the Facebook problems plaguing the Malays including generation. corruption, poverty and inflation. It is not that there was no growth in The most important issue in the next Singapore or Egypt. Far from it. In fact Sin- general election is whether non-Malays can gapore experienced a record 14.5 per cent accept PAS, and whether Malays and Bumi- growth in its GDP in 2010 while Egypt and puteras can embrace DAP. Tunisia had a growth rate that averaged 5

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 21 per cent. the eastern seaboard of China.

nal It is fair to establish that growth alone It is time for us to re-look at Malaysia’s r is not sufficient to generate social cohe- low-wage policy, set a minimum wage, and siveness. Failure to address issues con- also put a stop to the massive influx of un- cerning distribution and equal access to skilled foreign labour. We must end the vi- e Jou e

h opportunities literally brought down these cious cycle of low wage, low skill and low

T governments. productivity. In short, it is inequality that fuelled Beyond jobs and wages, we need a para- anti-establishment anger. A system that digm shift in housing, public transport, privileges a small group of well-heeled elite healthcare and sustainability. over the others is tolerated either because While the private sector can remain a growth spilled over sufficiently to keep ev- player in these sectors, the public sector eryone happy or the prevailing oppressive must play an active role to ensure that pri- nature of the regime kept the people in fear vate speculation and profiteering would not most of the time. result in the majority not having a roof over But the spike in global inflation since their heads, those who do not own a car be- the global financial crisis in 2008 is felt come immobile, and those who can’t afford more keenly in societies that are hugely healthcare suffer or die miserably. And, unequal economically than those that are our environment is not to be compromised more equal. The poor and the middle-class either. saw their living standards fall rapidly as in- Hence, a “left turn” in our approach to flation rose. the economy is required in order to ensure And the presence of the Facebook gen- that all Malaysians regardless of race and eration tilted the balance as the state is ethnicity live a decent life with equal op- no longer able to monopolies the spread of portunity in the face of global inflation. news and communication channels to or- Malaysia is at a crossroad in which a ganize mass civil disobedient actions. change of the federal government in the The lessons that all governments need next general election is no longer deemed to learn are these: that investors, either for- impossible. eign or local, are not voters; tourists are not But for that change to happen, PAS and voters and real estate developers are not DAP must both win across the ethnic divide voters either. Economic growth alone with- while Pakatan Rakyat needs to provide a out fairer distribution of the fruits of growth new and creative economic alternative pre- is not politically sustainable. mised on left-of-centre ideas of equality Our economic agenda needs to priori- and solidarity. ties jobs and wages in our discourse. It is pointless if we have a huge influx of invest- *) Liew Chin Tong ments without generating decent jobs for Member of Parliament for Bukit Bendera, the locals. Malaysia While checking inflation sounds noble, International Secretary, DAP it is almost impossible to curb it especially as the latest wave of inflation is to a large extent a result of rising wages for workers in

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 22 iew

Narrating the Future v An Examination of Neil Postman’s

Building a Bridge Re Book to the 18th Century

By: Francis Isaac

I dismissed the statement as utter non- sense and went on my way; though I had the gnawing feeling that the people behind the said banner had complete faith in the One morning, while I was on my way to truthfulness of their message. work, I saw a large billboard that was appar- This minor incident, to my mind, re- ently set up by a group of fundamentalist flects the various ideas that we have on how Christians. Written in bright, bold letters, the world will exactly end. Evangelicals, for the tarpaulin warned commuters of the instance, believe that we are already living approaching Apocalypse on May 21, 2011 in the End of Days; while scientists, on the and called on the public to turn back to God other hand, maintain that the Earth will be before it is too late. around for another five (5) billion years, un- Amused by the boldness of its assertion, til the Sun finally dies out as a frightening

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 23 red dwarf. how we codify it”—ideas which (accord- Such apparent lack of consensus, how- ing to the writer) have been inherited from iew v ever, is hardly surprising, since our vision of the Enlightenment (p. 69). This, Postman the future is greatly influenced by our own argues, has a particular significance for frameworks and belief systems. This was, language since it is now “under deep suspi- in fact, pointed out by American academic cion and is even thought to be delusional” Neil Postman in his last major work Build- since it is totally incapable of mapping out

Book Re Book ing a Bridge to the 18th Century. reality. First released in 1999, the book begins A similar idea was also proposed by fel- with the controversial proposition that the low academic Pauline Rosenau who typified “future is an illusion;” not because time does postmodernism for its “open-endedness not exist, but because the “future (that) we and lack of specific definition” (1992; p. 11), see is only—(and) can only be—a projec- whose aim is “not to formulate an alterna- tion of the past” (p. 5). Hence, the future (for tive set of assumptions but to register the Postman) is made and not divined, since impossibility of establishing any such un- it would have to be painstakingly built by derpinning for knowledge” (Ibid.; p. 6). the current generation using all the moral Her statements, however, imply that and intellectual resources that it has at its postmodernism actually has repercussions disposal. that extend beyond the realm of linguistics; This, however, places a terrible respon- which is why Fredric Jameson uses it as “a sibility on us who are living in the present, periodizing concept whose function is to for we are now compelled to search for “use- correlate the emergence of a new type of ful and humane ideas (from our past) with social life and a new economic order” called which to fill the future” (p. 13). late capitalism (1998; p. 3). It is probably this sense of obligation But for Postman, the implications of that has prompted Postman to condemn postmodernism is even more sinister, since his fellow intellectuals who have “fallen its dominance in American intellectual under the devilish spell of…postmodern- circles actually indicate the loss of purpose ism” (p. 8). Utilizing a set of arguments that and breakdown of narrative in the West. By sometimes borders on the ad hominem, the narrative, the author refers to “stories that author accuses the purveyors of this social are sufficiently profound and complex to theory as “people in the thrall of a serious offer explanations of the origins and future depression” and equates them with “alien- of a people; stories that construct ideals, and devil-believers” (p. 8) for allegedly of- prescribe rules of conduct, specify sources fering ridiculous ideas. of authority, and, in doing all this, provide a But this begs the question: How are we sense of continuity and purpose” (Postman; to understand the term postmodernism 2000; p. 101). that the author so vehemently repudiates? However, it is precisely this sense of pur- In a chapter laconically entitled “Lan- pose that is being assailed by postmodern- guage”, Postman describes postmodern- ist thought. In his book The Postmodern ism as an intellectual movement that “calls Condition for instance, French intellectual into question some of the more significant Jean-Francois Lyotard defined the post- ‘modern’ assumptions about the world and modern “as incredulity toward metanar-

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 24 ratives.” This is then accompanied by the ress and our modern concept of happiness narrative function “losing its functors, its (pp. 17-18). iew great hero, its great dangers, its great voy- He even gave a fairly comprehensive v ages, its great goal,” since it is now “being definition of the Enlightenment, describ- dispersed in clouds of narrative language ing it as “a philosophical movement of the elements…(and) conveyed within each eighteenth century focusing on the criti- cloud are pragmatic valencies specific to its cism of previously accepted doctrines and kind” (1984; p. xxiv). institutions from the point of view of ratio- Re Book As an American writer “who fancies nalism” (p. 3). This is quite compatible with himself a heir of the Enlightenment” (p. Kant’s own version of the Enlightenment as 7) Postman’s critique is quite understand- “man’s release from his self-incurred tute- able. But for post-colonial societies like the lage, ” by “hav(ing) the courage to use your Philippines, his criticisms should be taken own reason” (p. 3). with a grain of salt, since postmodernism Incidentally, this particular assertion has actually assisted intellectuals from the by Neil Postman has great significance for South to unmask the subjective character activists in the Philippines, since our own of certain Western episteme. Revolution of 1896 (and the Republic that Edward Said, in fact, quickly comes to it subsequently created) were largely ani- mind who (by acknowledging his debt to mated by the Enlightenment ideals of lib- Michel Foucault) was able to conclude that, erte, egalite, fraternite. This is fairly notice- “ideas, cultures, and histories cannot seri- able in the writings of Emilio Jacinto who ously be studied without their…configura- reminded his fellow revolutionists that, “all tions of power, also being studied” (1979; p. men are equal; (since) the origin of all is 5). Hence, for Said, “neither the term Orient the same” (de los Santos; 2009; p. 174), and nor the concept of the West has any onto- that “liberty is the attribute of man from logical stability; (since) each is made up the moment he is born” (Ibid.; P. 173). of human effort, partly affirmation, partly He also tried to establish the proper rela- identification of the Other,” as well as the tionship between the state and its citizens, power relations that they engender (Ibid.; saying that, “the object of all government is p. xvii). the people, and the security and welfare of Yet, for all his unyielding criticism, the people must be the aim of all laws and Postman does have a point: that a far bet- acts” (ibid.; p, 177). He further develops this ter future can only be secured if we try to idea by articulating his own version of the redeem some of the most sublime and social contract, attesting that edifying ideas from the eighteenth cen- the power of the ruler was not tury. Of course, in Postman’s reckoning, the given to him by nature, and that eighteenth century roughly corresponds as a man he is on the same level to the Age of the Enlightenment—the pe- as the rest. Hence, all power, to riod wherein “we developed our ideas about be reasonable and genuine, must inductive science, about religious and po- be exercised for the benefit of the litical freedom, about popular education, people from which it emanated. about rational commerce, and about the (Ibid.; pp. 177-178; underscoring nation-state,” as well as the notion of prog- supplied)

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 25 Another compatriot Apolinario Mabini One thing, however, is quite certain: that also worked in the same milieu, and tried the future can only be built through toil and iew v to envision the kind of government that will painstaking sacrifice. For as Jose Rizal sug- be established in the Philippines once the gests in the closing chapter of his patriotic Revolution has been decisively won. Writ- novel Noli Me Tangere, we must first fall in ing in the town of Rosales while hiding from the night before we can claim the promise his American pursuers, Mabini asserted of the new dawn.

Book Re Book that the future government should be a “political trinity” (1931; p. 56) wherein state References power will be divided among the executive, the legislative and the judiciary within a De los Santos, Epifanio. 2009. The Revolu- parliamentary system. He then tried to es- tionists. National Historical Institute: tablish the appropriate relationship among Manila. these three government branches by allo- Jameson, Fredric. 1998. The Cultural Turn: cating the functions that should be given to Selected Writings on the Postmodern, each one of them: 1983-1998. Verso London and New Society should have a soul— York. authority. This authority should Kant, Immanuel. 1963. On History. Lewis have a sense of reason that guides White Beck, Robert Anchor and Emil and directs—the legislative power. Fackenheim (trans.). Macmillan Publish- A will that acts and implements— ing Company: New York. the executive power. A conscience Lyotard, Jean-Francois. 1984. The Postmod- that judges and punishes the ern Condition: A Report on Knowledge. bad—the judicial power. Those Geoff Bennington and Brian Massumi powers should be independent (trans.). University of Minnesota Press: in the sense that none of them Minneapolis. should infringe on the authority of Mabini, Apolinario. 1931. The Philippine the other. However, the latter two Revolution (With Other Documents of should submit to the former, as will the Period): Volume II. National Histori- and conscience submit to reason. cal Institute: Manila. The executive and judicial cannot Postman, Neil. 2000. Building a Bridge to separate themselves from the laws the 18th Century: How the Past Can Im- passed by the legislative, but the prove Our Future. Vintage Books: New latter does not have any other York. judge except public opinion, or the Rizal, Jose. 2006. Noli Me Tangere (Touch people themselves. (Ibid.; p. 58) Me Not). Harold Augenbraum (trans.). These, then, are the legacy of 1896 Penguin Books: New York. which we, by extension, have inherited Rosenau, Pauline. 1992. Post-Modernism from the Enlightenment and the men and and the Social Sciences: Insights, In- women who made the American and French roads and Intrusions. Princeton Univer- Revolutions possible. How we will use this sity Press: Princeton, New Jersey. inheritance to shape our future is entirely Said, Edward. 1979. Orientalism. Vintage our own. Books: New York.

Asian Social Democracy Journal 4th edition, April 2012, page 26 Willy Brandt (18 December 1913–8 October 1992)

Wir wollen mehr Demokratie wagen. Wir wollen eine Gesellschaft, die mehr Freiheit bietet und mehr Mitverantwortung fordert.

We want to dare more democracy. We want a society that offers more freedom and calls for more responsibility. Participants of Conference of the Network of Social Democracy in Asia: “Growth, Social Balance and Sustainability: Perspectives for Social Democratic Economic Policies in Asia”, 19 – 22 October 2010, Jakarta/INDONESIA