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Invitation to contribute AN ALTERNATIVE ECONOMIC STRATEGY FOR SCOTLAND A project to help build a practical alternative to Neo-Liberalism The need for an alternative economics Across the globe there is a developing tide of resistance to neo-liberal economics. As the harmful effects of free market economic policies become more widespread, there is an urgent need for new thinking in developing an alternative and more progressive strategy. However, so entrenched is the dominance of free market thinking and so blinkered the mindset of political and economic elites that there is an absence of debate about alternatives. A dominant policy agenda drives economic decision-making, creating an increasingly unregulated capitalism serving the interests of powerful states and multinational companies, and at the expense of weaker nations, local communities and workers. There is a growing demand for an alternative economics to neo-liberal capitalism; based upon the principle of social justice rather than private profit. With the growing grassroots resistance to neo-liberalism and the accompanying emergence of initiatives such as the World and European Social Forums, new ideas are now being advocated that offer competing visions of how an economy should be run and for whom. To date, however, such visions have run ahead of mainstream political debate. Across Europe, parties of both centre-left and the right continue to be wedded to the neo-liberal orthodoxy, as the continuing commitment to the regressive and restrictive economic and fiscal framework of the Maastricht Treaty by governments of all political shades reveals. Despite the increasing inadequacies of this approach, and an accompanying rise in inequality and mass unemployment, mainstream politics remains paralysed in its neo-liberal straitjacket. The opportunity for a Scottish alternative: the proposed project Reflecting this broader context and the growing public discontent with prevailing orthodoxies, the 2003 elections for the Scottish Parliament recorded a massive rise in support for parties and platforms of the left. This has created an historic opportunity to develop a more progressive economic agenda that can feed into the new political space that has opened up. A new policy alternative can be developed and placed on the public agenda in Scotland with real prospects of its implementation. In turn, this Alternative Economic Strategy could both draw upon, and contribute to, a broader international alternative to neo-liberalism. As a starting point, it is proposed that an alternative strategy is based upon the following basic principles: a focus upon Scotland (assuming for heuristic purposes an Independent ScotlandΉ) but located within a broader commitment to global justice and progressive internationalism rather a narrow regressive nationalism; a commitment to the redistribution of income and progressive taxation in order to tackle social inequality; the democratisation of the economy, making decision-making publicly accountable and where necessary creating new forms of public ownership; improving employment standards, achieving a living wage and guaranteeing trade union rights; guaranteeing equal rights and access to economic and employment opportunities; developing an environmentally sustainable economy; development of a network of broad Left academics and policy-makers to critique neo-liberal policies and develop an alternative discourse. The aim of the project proposed here is to develop an alternative economic strategy that brings together specialists from a range of academic and policy backgrounds to create a set of practical alternatives to current economic policy orthodoxy. In realising this aim, there are two specific objectives: the holding of a one-day workshop of speakers contributing policy papers at the STUC Headquarters, Woodlands Road, Glasgow (late October 2004) the publication of an Alternative Economic Strategy (April-May 2005) in advance of a UK General Election. Key themes The following are the key themes that have been identified as critical to the development of an alternative economic project. However, this is not an exhaustive list and where a sound case is made additional themes will be considered. Beyond neo-liberalism: shaping an alternative New forms of public ownership for the 21st century Scotland and the global economy Scotland in Europe Finance and taxation Industrial policy A strategy for the services sector Tackling poverty and unemployment Public sector economic strategies Transport and infrastructure The knowledge economy Energy policy Rural development Employment policy Housing policy Local and regional economic governance Call for papers Papers are invited from potential contributors for the October Workshop. Contributors should submit an abstract (approximately 200 words) plus basic outline (in the form of key headings/subheadings) of the paper they wish to present and a brief cv to the organising committee by 30th June 2004. Contributors should also supply a draft written version of the paper (maximum 5,000 words) by 1st October to enable pre-circulation in order to encourage discussion and debate at the Workshop. Presentations will last twenty minutes with ten minutes for discussion. Following the Workshop, contributors will be encouraged to collaborate in the preparation of the Alternative Economic Strategy publication. Deadline for final versions of papers: 31st January 2005. Abstracts, outlines and cvs should be sent to either: Andy Cumbers or: Mike Danson/Geoff Whittam Department of Geography and Geomatics Paisley Business School University of Glasgow University of Paisley Glasgow Paisley G12 8QQ PA1 2BE Tel 0141 330 2291 Tel 0141 848 3368 Fax 0141 330 4894 Fax: 0141 848 3618 [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask]