[LINK] "The dangerous 'zombie identities' of those left behind by global capitalism"

[rfmcdonald]

At Open Democracy, Kristian Thorup looks at how class identities can survive the collapse of their economic functions, and how they can inspire new--sometimes threatening--populist ideologies.

In the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election it was clear that Donald Trump's victory relied heavily on the white working class vote. It's well-known that his rhetoric and ideology resonates especially well with this class as he speaks effectively to the feelings and experiences of the victims of a more and more globalised economy and the subsequent decline of the American manufacturing industry.

As the frustrations among these working class voters emanate from the pitfalls of globalisation, it should be clear that the basis for Trump's victory tells us a story much larger than that of the 2016 election. The frustrations among Trump's voters tell us about the fundamental mechanisms of today's more and more globalised capitalism.

Today, capital moves around the globe effortlessly. It easily crosses national borders, finding the most cost effective place to produce its commodities. Free market preachers are excited by the mere thought of how the market with fluid elegance lets itself equilibrate by balancing supply and demand. From their strictly economic standpoint this kind of development only entails advantages from cheaper goods, more efficient production, and allegedly higher economic growth.

But the economic structures do not only produce the material goods of society. They also produce a lot of society's meaning and identities. People's identities to a large extent emanate from their place in the production system. They work as distinguished lawyers, proud and strong coal miners or caring doctors. People tend to find their social value and dignity through their professions.

The question is what happens to people's identities when companies move their production to other countries and thereby remove the economic 'base' of these identities. What happens to the proud worker of a car plant when most of the car plants move to the other side of the globe where labor is cheaper? What happens when a factory worker doesn't have any factory work any more?