#WORLD #WORLDWIDE #GERMANY #WAR #ANARCHISM #News #Journal #Update - (en) #Germany, Die Platform: Situation analysis summer 2022: time of crises? Time for resistance! (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

 In recent months, various developments such as the war in Ukraine, the corona

pandemic that has apparently disappeared and, of course, the price increases in
all areas have led to new developments in the social situation in Germany. In
this text we want to try to explain the current situation and its origins, to
show its concrete effects and possible consequences and to present what a
class-struggle answer to the crisis can look like. ---- introduction ---- With
the start of the corona pandemic, 2020 heralded a new stage in social, economic
and political developments worldwide. Already in May 2020, together with our
sister organizations, we published a  longer analysis with some forecasts on
these new developments. The central thesis was that the pandemic would represent
"a new central factor in weakening and blocking the "normal" workings of the
system" and would lead to an "unprecedented attack on the living conditions of
the lower class".

More than two years have passed since we wrote these lines. Now, in July 2022, we
find that the situation has once again changed significantly. The coronavirus
pandemic, while far from over, has taken a back seat to news of global inflation
and its impact on the wage-earning class, and news of Russia's war of aggression
in Ukraine. The massive price increases in all areas of life and the war that
partly fuels them have led to a new situation, both globally and regionally, in
which our class is experiencing a massive attack on their living standards. At
the same time we experience that the social movements and the left as social
counterforces, who could form resistance to these attacks are in a phase of
weakness and ideological disorientation. It is important to break out of this
weakness and take up resistance against the deteriorating living conditions.
With this text we try to present our analysis of the current situation, the
situation of the social counterforces and possible courses of action in the face
of the crisis. We focus on Germany - but also consider the European and global
context. On the one hand, we want to promote the exchange in our movement on the
situation, but also to encourage resistance to the developments in schools,
universities, workplaces and in the neighborhoods. We are very happy about
feedback on our text, especially about the critical ones!
Let's work together to develop resistance as a class against the crisis and the
system! For the establishment of countervailing power from below!
Analysis of the current crisis situation

In spring 2020, we observed that globally, some countries took more restrictive
and some less restrictive measures to contain the pandemic. In many countries it
could be observed that the governments massively tightened social control over
the wage-earning class. We correctly predicted that the Chinese government in
particular would prove to be particularly rigid here. But while at the beginning
of the pandemic it still seemed as if this model could be exported all over the
world, today we see the opposite in almost all countries. Parallel to the start
of the vaccination campaigns in the countries of the industrial centers of Europe
and North America, almost all governments in this region massively scaled back
the pandemic measures. The increase in vaccination options was accompanied by the
reduction in testing options. The spread of the virus and its new variants can
hardly be observed or even controlled. The cases that are registered suggest
persistently high rates of infection and hospitalization (1; 2). The health of
the wage-earning class and the most vulnerable groups has been sacrificed to the
drive of capital and governments to restart economies. It is already clear that
we can expect high numbers of infections in autumn and winter. It is expected
that governments will not return to restrictions that could hamper the
functioning of economies. It is still unclear whether they dare to restrict their
free time. Currently, at least in Germany, a significant part of the population
is against tightening (3) and these would of course also have a negative effect
on the recovery of the national economy. In any case, the increase in the number
of infections will once again hit the health system in Germany far too badly
prepared. The responsibility for this rests with the government, which, contrary
to all promises, blindly ignores the disastrous situation of the personnel in
this sector. The staff shortage is acute because many employees fall ill
themselves or have long since left the industry (4). The strike of the employees
in the university clinics of In any case, the increase in the number of
infections will once again hit the health system in Germany far too badly
prepared. The responsibility for this rests with the government, which, contrary
to all promises, blindly ignores the disastrous situation of the personnel in
this sector. The staff shortage is acute because many employees fall ill
themselves or have long since left the industry (4). The strike of the employees
in the university clinics of In any case, the increase in the number of
infections will once again hit the health system in Germany far too badly
prepared. The responsibility for this rests with the government, which, contrary
to all promises, blindly ignores the disastrous situation of the personnel in
this sector. The staff shortage is acute because many employees fall ill
themselves or have long since left the industry (4). The strike of the employees
in the university clinics of NRW , which lasted for weeks, shows that those in
government are willing to let the "heroes of the crisis" continue to bleed, but
that employees have had enough of this policy.
Outside the industrial centers, the availability of vaccines and thus the spread
of vaccinations is still very limited in many countries due to the distribution
policy of the industrial centers (5). Together with the less developed health
systems, this means that the populations are much less prepared for the virus and
its new variants.

As the pandemic has seemingly receded into the background, the next global crisis
has unfolded. Since 2021, inflation has been increasing in many economies around
the world - including in the economically "stable" countries of the industrial
centers (6). Overall, inflation is increasing globally (7). This development is
being driven by the fact that supply chains disrupted by the pandemic have still
not recovered and by rising energy prices. The latter are rising because the raw
materials needed to generate energy are becoming more expensive and, at the same
time, the global demand of the recovering economies is increasing. In addition,
there is stronger CO2 pricing in Germany as part of the "green capitalism" agenda
(8). However, we must not forget here that price increases, even in the wake of
rising prices for raw materials, are not a law of nature - and the extent of the
price increases is certainly not. The capitalists insist on maintaining or even
increasing the rate of profit and making us pay the price. The mineral oil
companies have done it before and have brought in whopping excess profits (9)
with fantastic profit prospects (10).
The consequences of this development: For months, prices have been rising
massively in all areas, especially for fuel, heating and food (11).
Inflation means we can afford less in real terms, even if some of our paper wages
are rising (12). This situation represents a massive attack on the living
conditions of the wage-earning class, especially its most vulnerable sections.
The influx to the food banks' food banks already increased during the pandemic
(13) and is increasing now (14). In the coming weeks and months, many of us will
be receiving the annual statements from our energy suppliers - in all probability
with massive additional claims. It is clear that many wage earners can no longer
pay in this situation. Energy cuts and forced evictions, should the payment of
the rent not be possible, will follow. And if it doesn't happen now, such
scenarios will follow in the coming year. Because a drop in inflation is
currently not considered likely. A new, deep economic crisis, in which companies
go bankrupt or carry out mass layoffs, can be the result of this development. If
that happens, layoffs will hit workers in precarious jobs disproportionately -
and thus FLINTAs and migrant people, who often live in such conditions more often
than average. For FLINTAs in partnerships with Cis men, this will increase
dependency on the sole male breadwinner. This will mean there will be fewer
opportunities for FLINTAs to escape from patriarchal intimate partner violence.
in which companies go bankrupt or carry out mass redundancies can be the result
of this development. If that happens, layoffs will hit workers in precarious jobs
disproportionately - and thus FLINTAs and migrant people, who often live in such
conditions more often than average. For FLINTAs in partnerships with Cis men,
this will increase dependency on the sole male breadwinner. This will mean there
will be fewer opportunities for FLINTAs to escape from patriarchal intimate
partner violence. in which companies go bankrupt or carry out mass redundancies
can be the result of this development. If that happens, layoffs will hit workers
in precarious jobs disproportionately - and thus FLINTAs and migrant people, who
often live in such conditions more often than average. For FLINTAs in
partnerships with Cis men, this will increase dependency on the sole male
breadwinner. This will mean there will be fewer opportunities for FLINTAs to
escape from patriarchal intimate partner violence. who live in such circumstances
more often than average. For FLINTAs in partnerships with Cis men, this will
increase dependency on the sole male breadwinner. This will mean there will be
fewer opportunities for FLINTAs to escape from patriarchal intimate partner
violence. who live in such circumstances more often than average. For FLINTAs in
partnerships with Cis men, this will increase dependency on the sole male
breadwinner. This will mean there will be fewer opportunities for FLINTAs to
escape from patriarchal intimate partner violence.
Adding to the impoverishment of wage earners is the miserable state of public
infrastructure and public services, which the crisis will only worsen. Throughout
the country, positions in public administration, education and care are
understaffed. Railway lines and schools are dilapidated. All of this means poorer
care for people in an emergency, longer waiting times and thus health risks. Many
wage-earners are already feeling this development in everyday life.
The traffic light government has so far reacted more than cautiously to this
crisis - at least when it comes to relief for wage earners. A small subsidy for
recipients of housing assistance, a tank discount, the effects of which were
largely felt in the pockets of the mineral oil magnates, and the 9-euro ticket
for the summer. It is unclear which measures will ultimately prevail in the
government - there is already talk of warm-up halls for the poor, stopping energy
cuts, but also reducing the heating.
On the other hand, the government has not been so stingy when it comes to crisis
measures affecting the capitalist class. In June, the payment of short-time
allowance was extended again until the end of September 2022 (15). The state
therefore still pays part of the wages to companies with a minimum number of lost
workers. The planned income tax cuts (16) will also disproportionately favor
those who earn a lot. People who receive little or no wages will get nothing from
this measure.
The rulers seem to recognize the "social explosives" (Olaf Scholz) of the
situation. That is why they are mobilizing ideologically and practically against
the danger of a wage-earning class that will no longer put up with all this.
Ideologically, by swearing people into "years of scarcity" (Christian Lindner),
which would supposedly hit everyone. And practically, by bringing out the armored
steed of social partnership. Chancellor Scholz's "concerted action" (17), with
which he brought capital associations and the  DGB leadership together to
negotiate "joint" solutions to the crisis, is the best example of this. The last
unadjusted  DGB-Member should also have their teeth pulled in order to prevent
larger wage wars.
But bourgeois ideology is also going on the offensive on another political stage.
In the course of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which has given
price increases a good boost, the  NATO countries are arming themselves. The
traffic light government has launched a massive 100 billion euro rearmament
package under the pretext of war. NATO _   on the one hand, experiences an
ideological strengthening through the reporting of the bourgeois media, which are
fully on course for government. On the other hand, it is experiencing a military
strengthening through rearmament and the accession of Finland and Sweden. Other
areas of public services, for which there will be less money, will pay the price,
but above all the Kurdish freedom movement. The Turkish regime took advantage of
the situation and, with its approval  of the two countries joining NATO ,
succeeded in extraditing persecuted activists. Meanwhile, Erdogan is preparing a
full-scale invasion against the progressive Rojava project. Turkey is already
intensifying its warfare in northern and eastern Syria.
The advance of the climate crisis should not go unmentioned here. Its effects can
again be felt massively this summer - especially in the Global South. In Europe,
the southern Mediterranean countries are particularly affected, but the situation
is also getting worse here in Germany. Severe heat waves endanger the lives of
people from risk groups, although here too, of course, only the wage-earning
class is affected. Droughts will again destroy crops, exacerbating food price
increases. Right now it is fatal that governments are considering fossil energy
generation again in the wake of the gas shortage. In Germany, the expansion of
coal and nuclear power generation is being discussed, but also the expansion of
liquid gas infrastructure ( LNG) advanced. While these technologies are presented
as clean to the outside world, they actually represent a strategy to sustain
fossil fuel use, slowing down the necessary expansion of renewable energy
production (18). But the energy crisis also opens up the possibility, in our
struggles, to talk about whether it wouldn't make sense to shut down
energy-intensive production facilities that are not needed for people's needs.
After all, a reduction in production will be necessary anyway to contain the
climate catastrophe. Why not use this crisis as a hook to talk about it with
those around us?
Along with many others, the climate crisis remains an important factor driving
global refugee movements. But the current crisis situation as a global crisis
will also intensify these movements. The states of the EU have prepared
themselves for this situation with deadly calculations. Europe's lockdown has
been tightened over the past two years as people continue to seek and seek to
flee to Europe from the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. Government policies
are deadly and reveal the brutal nature of this racist nation-state system.
Analysis of the opposing forces
The reaction of the wage-earning class to this multi-layered crisis situation is
extremely weak in Germany, as it is in the entire German-speaking area. While we
have already seen large protests against the price hikes both inside (Belgium,
UK) and outside the industrial centers (Sri Lanka, Colombia, Argentina), there
have been very, very few and very, very small mobilizations here -  at one of
them our local group in the Ruhr area was also involved. It is remarkable and
gratifying that so far right-wing forces have not succeeded in mobilizing the
certainly and justifiably existing displeasure about the situation onto the
streets under their flag. However, it is also clear that such a reactionary
crisis movement can develop at any time. After two years of mobilizing a
right-wing milieu in the wake of the pandemic, the potential for this should
definitely be there. So it's probably only a matter of time before we see
attempts from the right to tackle the issue on a large scale.

It would actually be high time to anticipate the right and initiate a crisis
protest from the left. The fact that this does not happen is certainly also due
to the fact that the current crises in Germany and in the entire German-speaking
area are affecting a massively weakened left. The crisis of the left in the
current situation is comprehensive and affects both social democracy in the form
of the internally divided Left Party, as well as the large trade unions and the
radical left.
As shown above, the  DGB leadership has once again taken a cuddling course with
capital in order to defend Germany as a business location. The fact that this
course is not a problem for the new  DGB boss Fahimi, who comes directly from the
  SPD  , explains her official salary, for which the members of the  DGB- Unions
pay. However, it should be clear to many ordinary members that the course of
appeasement ultimately means a loss of real wages. Because if the demands for
wage increases during the coming collective bargaining rounds do not exceed the
rate of inflation, then real wages will remain the same or fall. And it currently
looks like the latter in many sectors. In the end it will once again be important
that the  DGB members do not let themselves be tricked by their official level
and are not satisfied with lousy wage agreements (19), but instead fight
resolutely for the legitimate demands themselves. The strike in the university
hospitals in North  Rhine- Westphalia provides an example of this determination,
who has been holding out for weeks and rejecting lousy offers from the lines. But
we have also seen strikes in some sectors. The fact that such strongly pacified
sectors as the dock workers are now noticeably striking again after decades gives
hope for a time of intensified struggle from below.
In order to strengthen the militant pole in the trade union movement, given the
conformism and inaction of the  DGB leadership, it is crucial to strengthen the
Freie Arbeiter*innen-Union ( FAU ) as a militant grassroots union. FAU  has
developed extremely positively in recent years and has massively increased its
membership numbers, especially during the pandemic .  In the coming years it will
be important to continue to build up the  FAU  and to promote the strengthening
of militant elements in the  DGB unions. At the same time, realistically
speaking, it must be stated that  FAU would hardly be in a position to push ahead
decisively in the fight against wage devaluation.
The current crisis and the weakness of the trade union movement is also having a
crippling effect on other social struggles in which the (radical) left is
involved. The anti-fascist, anti-racist, feminist and climate movement are
currently experiencing a phase of weakness and disorientation.
And most recently, the protests against the war in Ukraine that were initially -
albeit weak - have collapsed again. The formation of a real peace movement or
even an anti-militarist movement did not take place, which was due on the one
hand to the ideological disorientation of the left somewhere between siding with
NATO  or siding with Putin on this issue, but also due to the massive bourgeois
war propaganda. The  campaign by authoritarian communist organizations against
rearmament found its way onto the streets, but mobilization within their own
circles was unsuccessful.
options for action
In view of the escalating crises and the weakness of the left, resignation is the
wrong path. Instead of sticking your head in the sand, the aim is to fight back
the massive attack on the living conditions of the wage-earning class with
determined class struggle.

In order to develop the class struggle in this stage, there are various possible
courses of action for the anarchist and the left (radical) movements and for our
class as a whole. We want to show you which paths we consider to be sensible. It
is clear that not all of these proposals are applicable in every area. Actions
should conform to specific local conditions.
Agitation and joint struggle with colleagues in the companies against the
devaluation of our wages! Broad support for strikes and other forms of industrial
action, inside and outside the unions!
Determined struggle from below in the  DGB trade unions against the pandering of
the leadership to capital and for a militant course. No trust in the officials,
no collective agreements that lead to real wage losses!
Consistent development and strengthening of the  FAU . At the same time, let's
continue to develop the militant and grassroots-democratic alternative to the DGB
unions!
Initiating and meddling in street protests against dumping the costs of the
crisis on our class. Let's not shy away from diffuse protest milieus, but let's
go in with determination, let's make our class-struggle position clear and let's
push out reactionary positions!
Development of resistance in the neighborhoods against the crisis - especially
against energy cuts and evictions. Let's join forces locally with our neighbors
and intervene if they try to attack individuals!
Following on from this: Establishment of continuously working tenant unions and
networks against rent increases!
Self-organized food distribution and repair cafes. When we can no longer afford
food and/or minor repairs, we need mutual help!
General dissemination of propaganda against the rulers. We can only help ourselves!
Maintaining the previous social movements. The fights we have fought so far
against fascism, racism, patriarchy and the climate crisis must go on!
In the coming months and years, these movements must also intervene in struggles
to prevent the cost of the crisis from being shared among the wage-earning class.
Then, when the right tries to start or subvert protests, the anti-fascist
movement must drive them out. Migrant people and FLINTAs are particularly hard
hit by the crisis and this is where anti-racist and feminist movements need to
intervene. And last but not least, the energy question plays a central role in
this crisis as well as in the climate crisis. The climate movement must fight
both to stop fossil fuels and to find a social solution to the crisis. The
central engine and the unifying element of our struggles must be our common
position as wage earners!
Maintained protest against rearmament and the war in Ukraine. Let's continue to
support refugees and our comrades in Ukraine and Russia!
Prepare internationalist resistance against the invasion of Rojava!
In view of a Corona winter, prepare the resistance both against massive
interventions in our lives and against the victim policy of the traffic light
government!
Prepare our rooms and structures for the new corona wave!
All of this can only succeed as a joint movement from below, which clearly
rejects all attempts at social-chauvinist, nationalist, racist, sexist or
anti-queer divisions in the wage-earning class. Only united as a class will we be
able to fend off the attack of the rulers, but also of the reactionary forces. So
let's actively oppose reactionary agitation and attempts at division and let's
build common power from below!

LET  'S BUILD  BROAD  CLASS  RESISTANCE  AGAINST  THE  ATTACKS  FROM  ABOVE !
LET  'S  CREATE COUNTERPOWER  FROM  BELOW!
FOR  FREEDOM  AND  SOCIALISM!

credentials
(1) https://www.corona-in-zahlen.de/weltweit/deutschland/

(2)
https://www.zeit.de/gesundheit/2022-07/coronavirus-intensive-care-stations-infections-covid-diseases-personallack)

(3)
https://www.donaukurier.de/nachrichten/politik/umfrage-jeder-ztze-fuer-sofortige-verschaerfung-der-corona-massnahmen-6393792)

(4)
https://www.zeit.de/gesundheit/2022-07/coronavirus-intensive-care-stations-infections-covid-diseases-personallack)

(5) https://www.laenderdaten.de/gesundheit/corona-impfungen.aspx)

(6)
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/11/24/inflation-has-risen-around-the-world-but-the-us-has-seen-one-of-the
-biggest-increases/)

(7)
https://de.statista.com/statistics/data/studie/248024/umfrage/inflationrate-weltweit/)

(8)
https://www.capital.de/wirtschaft-politik/capital-erklaert-warum-steige-gerade-die-energiepreise)

(9)
https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/spritpreise-gewinne-mineraloelunternehmene-tankstellen-tankrabatt-1.5563562)

(10)
https://www.msn.com/de-de/finanzen/top-stories/shell-totalenergies-repsol-big-oil-schwimmt-nur-so-in-geld/ar-AA103BR7)

(11) https://www.destatis.de/DE/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/2022/06/PD22_272_611.html)

(12)
https://www.destatis.de/DE/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/2022/05/PD22_219_62321.html)

(13) https://www.tafel.de/fileadmin/media/Presse/Background
Information/2022-04-29_TAFEL_Corona_Info.pdf)

(14)
https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/gesellschaft/tafeln-in-deutschland-stiege-lebenshaltungkosten-sorgen-fuer-zulauf-a-b33bafd8-33ed-4dc6-9dd4-cd78ab2d5c5b)

(15)
https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/verlaengerung-kurzarbeitergeld-2003908)

(16) https://www.sueddeutsche

https://www.dieplattform.org/2022/08/23/situationsanalyse-sommer-2022-zeit-der-krisen-zeit-fuer-widerstand/#more-2417
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