Is mutualism the left answer of Cameron’s Big Society?

A lot of ink has been spilled over Cameron’s big idea especially among the English left wing who sees it as a means to cut public expenses. With this project, mutualism is an idea whose time seems to come back. But if mutualism is an expression used in the polical debate, its definition remains confusing. In order to use it as a leading idea of its social democratic project, the left needs to clarify what mutualism actually is.

Basically, through mutualism the individual is not only “a consumer, worker, recipient”, he becomes “a provider, owner, partner” as well. But according to Anthony Painter, mutualism is not seen the same way by the right and left. From the rightist perspective mutually owned and run organisations “spontaneously emerge as the state withdraw” . On the contrary, the left sees the state as essential to ensure the emergence of mutualism.

So what can the left do now with the idea of mutualism?

The international thinktank Policy Network provides many answers. According to Michael Stephenson, the left should reinforce this idea of mutualism. By pointing out mutual initiatives taken when the government was from the left wing they would make people be aware of what mutualism has brought and how it has embraced what they are expecting. The challenge is to show that mutualism is not a new idea from the Conservatives but something deeply rooted int he Labour party ideology.

To William Davies’ point of view, the clear definition of mutualism is also very important but on another hand, the objective should be based on more actions as setting out policy measures in favour of mutual initiatives.

If mutualism is seen by many as a counterstrategy to Cameron’s plan of Big Society, Adam Lent does not agree. According to him the mutual model alone is not enough. The left should go further: embrace the idea of Big Society in the public sector and extend it to the whole economy creating a Big Economy. “Mutualism undoubtebly has a part to play in this project but it is a supporting rather than a leading role.”

Written by Odile Grunert, EDUCATION AND SOLIDARITY NETWORK

The ESN partner of the “Social Security for All” program in Latin America

ESN has been invited to participate in the “Social Security Week” in Mexico last week. This week was also used to launch the program “Securidad Social para Todo” animated by the CIESS (Interamerican Center for Studies on Social Security, Mexico). The idea behind the program is to create a culture of solidarity and social security among young people and children in the Latin American region. The project, included in the “Guatemala Declaration” (signed by ESN), also includes an annual event, the “Social Security Week”, and 2011 was the first year this event found place.

ESN has been invited to be part of the Scientific Committee of this program, and to mobilise its members to contribute to the success of the program. The role of the education community in the diffusion of a culture of solidarity and social protection has been advocated by ESN from the beginning, and here is an excellent opportunity to make a concrete contribution!

In a meeting with the CIESS Director, Mr. Miguel Angel PASTOR, it was also decided to work together on a pilot program concerning the training of education professionals in Haiti, together with local union and SOLIDARITE LAIQUE (a French NGO working in the field of education and solidarity among educators).

In the same meeting, CIESS also formally agreed to be part of the network of social protection education and training centers which ESN has launched recently. This network could also be a good tool to develop shared strategies on social protection education.

Bachelet advocates SPF in Paris

Mrs. Bachelet, President of the Consultative Group on SPF came to Paris to avocate SPF on March 22-23. The main was to convince French decision makers of the importance of convincing G20 to integrate the Social Protection Floor in its priorities.
During a meeting with social protection leaders, the Mutuals pleaded the importance of a responsibilization of both States and Civil Society. Concerning the latter, the ESN emphasis on education and the participation of social economy organisations was underlined. A written contribution on this matter will be sent to the Bachelet Group.

Social Protection Floor : Consulting Workshop with the Bachelet Advisory Group

Today in Geneva, ESN took part in a consulting workshop with the Social Protection Floor Advisory Group. The speakers, including Mrs. Bachelet, insisted on the fact that 2011 is a crucial year to promote social protection. The Group’s work is one item on the agenda, but social protection will also be high in the priorities of the ILO Annual Conference. Moreover, Gilles de Robien, also part of the panel, confirmed that the social protection floor will be proposed as a priority by the French Presidency of the G20 this year.

The meeting was also a good opportunity to discover the initiatives taken in some countries, including the 2 most populous: India and China. Some country briefs were also distributed, which we’ll get in electronic format to be put on the ESN Website next week.

Martin Hirsch made a very intersting statement about the “social protection floor paradoxes” :

- at national level, the political importance of the SPF not always reflected in the level of decision involved

- at international level, between countries now trying to build floors, and a majority of developed countries providing extended social protection schemes but beginning to dismantle them.

We therefore think there is a role for civil society and its organizations, including mutual societies: to put pressure, both at national and international levels, to be sure that the floor doesn’t become simple “wishful thinking” but a real opportunity to extend solidarity based development initiatives!

ESN Executive Board: ESN publication to be launched

During March 9th Executive Board, the launching of the Network’s academic publication was decided. It will focus on research and good practices in education, training and capacity building in the fields of social protection, health prevention. A special focus will be given to social economy contribution in these fields.
The EB was also preparing the AGM in Cape Town. A special session has been planned on educators’ health problems and the way to prevent them.

Social Protection Floor: ESN part of Communication and Training Activites

On March 7-8, a working group of the SPF-I met in Turin ILO ITC campus. A hard working session resulting in an action plan which will aim at giving more visibility to both the Coalition and Social Protection Floor Initiative.
ESN will be an active contributor in the action plan, bringing its expertise in social protection education matters, and taking in charge a proposal to update the one page presentation of the SPF-I.

A symbolic victory for mutuals in Europe!

It is not the end of the story, but it’s a good beginning: it is now confirmed that a majority of MEPs will support the written declaration on the status for mutual societies (373 for today, but there are 2 days left!). This is an important symbolic victory for the supporters of social economy. It also proves that it is possible to convince political personnel from all sides to take an engagement in favor of our cause.

Cheer up social economy supporters!

 

TWO DISTURBING STUDIES ON PUBLIC HEALTH: WE MUST BE MORE RESPONSIBLE AND EDUCATE!

Two recent studies, published in Europe and China, show that we have both individual and collective responsibility for our health.

In China, a recent official study on tobacco shows that there are more than 1 million Chinese dyeing each year due to their addiction to tobacco. The cost for the country of the health problems linked to tobacco exceeds the revenues from the local tobacco industry by more than 6 billion Euros!

On another continent, in Europe, a recent study, APHEKOM, shows the impact of pollution and small particles on public health. The effects of the exceeding level of these particles compared to the WHO standards, reduces the life expectancy of people by more than two years in Bucharest and 6 months in Paris. The effects are very strong on young children (asthma being one of the important consequences of pollution).

On both subjects, education for small children … and also adults (!) should play a role, on a long term run, by helping to understand the dangers of individual or collective behaviours, and also the collective costs of these problems, both in lives and money!

 

Michael Cichon (ILO) on social protection floor: “The key is the political will.”

The social protection floor begins to be “serious business” at UN. During a news conference following a meeting at UN Commission for Social Development, Michael Cichon made some very strong and straightforward declarations on the importance of implementing the social protection floor initiative … and on the quite reduced cost this would represent for the World economy!

Michael Cichon first underlined what is forgotten by many policy makers in the world : social protection is part of the human rights.

He then insisted on the quite reasonable amount which is to be spent to help the poorest of the populations. An effort estimated at around 2 to 4 % of GDP in the World to cover the poorest. With 4% and basic health service, he estimates we could reduce the headcount of poverty by 60%.

The next point is that this reasonable effort has a big impact on growth and economic recovery. Which is to say in helping the poorest of us, we also help ourself by giving an impetus to economic development … at a very low cost!

Finally, Micheal Cichon explained that, as cost is very reasonable and effect on economic figures very positive, the only real problem is political will, a problem which brings us back to very plain human solidarity. He said it quite nicely, pointing out what would happen if the evident decisions are not made:

“What it means in the end, and I think we should all understand that, is that the old, the disabled, the sick and the poor are going to pay for the crisis for the next few years … And it’s a pretty straightforward message and a pretty perturbing message”.

To access the complete UN News article:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37532&Cr=labour&Cr1

From Big Society to the deregulation of NHS: where is Cameron going on social protection?

The signals concerning the future of health care and social protection in the UK are quite confusing. On one side, with the Big Society initiative, the Government seemed to want an opening to civil society participation in the social services, incluin through the creation of mutuals and cooperatives.

On the other side, the recent announcements about the NHS reform seem to indicate a trend towards a dismantling of a system, without any say for the citizens!

- It would leave responsibility of deciding cares and prescriptions to the general practitioners, organized in around 500 consortia, but with a target clearly aimed at reducing costs.

- It would open competition between private and public hospitals with the same aim: cut costs! It could also lead to the closing of non profitable hospitals, which could be a big risk for the quality and proximity of cares … not mentioning the political sensitivness of such measures!

There is plenty of reflexions to be had on this potential reform, which aims in a direction similar to what is happening in France and other countries with the reduction of “social expenses”.

This subject will no doubt be at the center of the meeting organized by the Network and planned in March in Benenden’s Kent Hospital with a French delegation lead by the French Mutual MGEN.