III Plenary discussion War and peace: politics and economy

Published: March 23rd, 2016

Moderator:
Alexander Buzgalin, Deputy Co-chair of the Forum, Professor of the Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov

Speakers:
Sergey Bodrunov, Head of International Branch of the MEF, Director of Institute for New Industrial Development
Giulietto Chiesa, an Italian journalist, writer and public figure
Alexander Rahr, director of research of the German-Russian Forum
Oleg Tsarev, Ukranian politician
Sergei Markov, a political analyst and member of the Public Chamber, General Director of "Institute of Political Studies"
Nathan Hunt, Chairman of the Board, CERBA Moscow, Founder
Xue Futsi, Professor, Head of Strategic Research Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Hermann Dvorak, coordinator of the European Social Forum, Austria

March 24 at the Lomonosov housing of the Moscow State University a III plenary discussion of the Moscow Economic Forum 2016 was held. The theme of the event - "War and Peace: The Politics and Economics" - applies to everyone - these words Alexander Buzgalin, deputy co-chair of the Forum, Professor of Economics Faculty of Moscow State University addressed to the audience. Moderator noted that the problem in different countries are very similar today, and the main task is to learn to understand the other point of view. And if we fail to understand each other before criticizing, it will be no criticism, but abuse.

Alexander Buzgalin sais that real economical and political power are in hands of oligarchy and bureaucracy. At the same time, "if you look at the economic system, Russia is much more liberal and capitalistic than even the United States," said the economist. "We do not have a progressive income tax. Officially, we have a very small share of the state and there is practically no serious industrial policy. Our situation in the education and health is much more market than in the US. And our citizens are infected with market fetishism, money fetishism, lust for power and money almost more than the Americans or Western Europeans who lived more than two hundred years in the conditions of capitalism,"- said the scientist.

If Russia will try to be even more imperial empire than the US, we will be hated almost as much as the United States today, Buzgalin is certain. "If our country does not have other friends besides the army and navy, we are the most aggressive country. But it is not so! We have many friends and enemies we have in common. And we can have more friends. Russia has to offer different agenda to the world,"- said the economist.

Oleg Tsarev, a famous Ukrainian politician, became memorable at the III Plenary discussions with the statement about the real root causes of the war. "Any war is for the money," - said ex-deputy of the Verkhovna Rada. The speaker reminded the audience about where the war began in Ukraine, adding that it was not easy as a politician to oppose the agreement on Association, lobbied by the president to create a new colony, that is the market. It was then when Tsarev predicted "second Maidan."

Situation on the Donbass, according to the speaker, was "born artificially," after all it is a very rich area. Production capacity of Lugansk and Donetsk regions would be enough to improve the quality of life of people in several times. "Of course, this can not be allowed, because if we started sharply and showed the standard of living higher than that in Ukraine, a region-by-region would fall one after the other. Therefore, the war ", - the politician said. The result - a crippled destiny, ruin, dead people.

The war was an ideal mechanism to make whole nations and poor countries. For example, on the situation in Ukraine, the Russian Federation has lost a little less than 200 billion dollars. However, according to expert of the MEF, arson practice around the world, carried out by the United States can play a bad joke with them - former satellites of Russia will sooner or later be returned to us and make friends with us economically and politically.

Oleg Tsarev was asked to give valuable recommendations on withdrawal from the crisis of the Russian economy. Admiting that it is very difficult to give advice to a country where there is more than a million compatriots in the Status of Refugees, the speaker still risked. He said that he could not understand why Russia has not introduced an economic toll, which compensates for the losses from the sanctions. Or why currency speculation were not terminated in the same way as it did in Ukraine.

Italian journalist and writer Giulietto Chiesa announced the fundamental enemy of Russian the media system. The speaker stressed that Russia did not need to look for enemies in the environment. According to him, journalists distort reality, carefully creating images of the aggressors in the face of Europe and the United States. Giulietto Chiesa is sure that the words were the weapon, that had broken the Soviet Union.

"Whatever you think is mainly determined by the media system, which was created during the last 30 years - said Chiesa. - Fundamental thoughts, aspirations, ideas, even ideas of consumption, preferences, family ideas, values of life are made inside the system, which has penetrated deeply into our brains. "

Going back to our time, the journalist said that Russians and Europeans in general have different views on the world. And the media has all the blame. As an example, he cited the tragedy in Ukraine. "But this is only an example, - said the journalist - virtually all the important events of humanity are hiding: 500 million Europeans and 320 million Americans also do not know what is happening in the world." And the deception of society through mass media is observed not only in Russia - for example, all believe that the US economic data is correct, but in fact they are false.

"We are told that the unemployment rate in America, 7%, and then I listen to the presidential candidate Trump, who at a meeting with supporters said that the real figure - 42%. Where did he get these figures? I do not think he's crazy. There are economists who openly write that the inflation rate in the United States more than 15%. So our information is wrong, and the reasons for the current crisis is very unclear, "- summed up the speaker and asked to consider the situation in Ukraine, the beginning of a gigantic collision for the planet's resources.

Finding ways to integrate Russia and the West in the construction of a common economic space from Lisbon to Vladivostok called to scientific director of the German-Russian Forum Alexander Rahr. According to the expert, large-scale project of this level could link the general idea of all countries in the region again.

Alexander Rahr mentioned the number of planes in which, according to him, the confrontation between Russia and the European Union is now unfolding. First - this is a problem of ideology propaganda: all that is contrary to the opinion and the rate of a specific country, immediately called propaganda. Both Russia and the West categorically refuse to take into account the point opposite point of view, the scientist said.

Secondly, Rahr said, that there is a process of demonization of politicians at the moment, for example, in Germany Putin is demonized, Russia - Obama, and it is very scary that everyone is trying to put himself above morals, the MEF speaker said.

Rarh also talked on the unstoppable idealogical battles between Russia and the West, which look a lot like those in the time of Cold War. The sanctions, and the attempt of the West to weaken Russia in energy, and in monetary terms are the consequences. "As a result of this confrontation business suffers, people suffer. Sanctions painfully hits the German businessmen who were banned to deal with the Russian businessmen in the past year", - the panelist cited the example.

Another plane, according to Alexander Rahr, is a values. West argues that it is necessary to build a common liberal values, but Russia says that its values are different from Western historically, resulting in an ideological confrontation. As a result, each party tries to write the narrative, even rewriting history.

The final confrontation factor as the speaker said is geopolitics. "Europe insists that the West was to be built on two pillars, NATO and the EU, forgetting that Russia - the largest country in the region and also has the right to defend its interests," - Rahr said.

Not to look for enemies outside urged the President of the Board (Moscow), the Canadian Business Association in Russia and Eurasia Nathan Hunt. The businessman stressed that Russia always try to put the blame for its problems on Western politicians, immigrants, Americans, instead, Russians should look for problems in themselves and build their own economy, which they could be proud of.
Hunt pointed out that one of the key issues in the relationship between Russia and the West was a significant difference in the view of the events in Ukraine. "I agree that the Western media still give voice to many things not quite right, while at the same time, the Russian media, to put it mildly, quite one-sided. Moreover, there are no organized attempts to give his point of view outside Russia", - the speaker said.

"In the West Maidan is a revolution of the people, the expression of the will of the Ukrainian people, while in Russia it is a a coup against the legitimately elected leader, produced under the influence of the United States", - cited the example speaker of the plenary discussion. He also mentioned the opposite approach to NATO: in Europe is an alliance created for the common defense, and expansion unit should not worry other countries. Russia points to quite aggressive actions on the part of NATO, which can not be considered protective.

Entrepreneur concluded that the world must be known and accepted by both points of view, that will only be to promote cooperation, and cited a famous quote of the US President Theodore Roosevelt: "Speak always quietly, but hold a big stick in hand."

ое на мировой рынок. У России есть все шансы не отстать в мировом развитии.

Sergey Bodrunov, Head of International Branch of the MEF, Director of Institute for New Industrial Development named after S.Y. Vitte mentioned that modern geopolitical and geoeconomical challenges are the great trial for the Russian economy and people. To save the economy, according to expert, it is necessary to carry out the policy aimed at import substitution products, primarily oriented to the world market. Russia has every chance not to fall behind in the global development.

"The president has already said that if we do not change our economic model, if we do not engage in technological development, and our economy, then we get any serious problems in the sphere of national security. The main Russian friend is good economy ", - summed up Bodrunov.

Hermann Dvorak, coordinator of the European Social Forum, believes that now an alternative to the current economic situation is needed. Among global threats speaker noted the rise of a powerful right-wing movements in many countries, and drew attention to the practice of imperialist pressure centers, which have a powerful influence on Greece, Russia, Latin America, not wishing to obey transnational capital. According to the speaker, to solve these problems, hoping only for managers, it is impossible. We must become the alternative, the real struggle for a society to make the world different.

Member of the Public Chamber, General Director of "Institute of Political Studies," Sergei Markov noticed a lot of attention to the public forum. According to him, this indicates an alternative to urgent needs. Within the framework of the Moscow Economic Forum, according to the analyst, a new program of Russian economic growth is created. At the same time, the scientist said that what the country needs is not a revolution, but major changes in the economy.

"Unfortunately, the West leads hybrid war against Russia in order to organize a coup Ukrainian type and to solve major geopolitical problems. Huge resources are already allocated to this. In this situation we need technology, new economic policy first of all," - the speaker said. In his opinion, it is necessary to implement a broad program of medical, biological and social technologies with the objective of increasing life expectancy - this will be positively welcomed by a large number of countries and can be easily exported.

Publicist finished his speech with indisputable statement: "In order to raise the economy to the EU level, it is necessary to convince the Russian man not to drink so much vodka that is much more of a problem than the State Department and all the enemies together."

Concluding plenary discussion, Alexander Buzgalin suggested to think about the alternative, which would come from the citizens and forced the government to follow their wishes - an alternative to the neoliberal policy pursued by the Kremlin, Washington and Brussels, and their attempts to build an empire. He noted that it is possible to seek a solution in socially oriented policy where the citizen will be preference to those who spent money on conspicuous consumption, to the fictitious growth in the export of capital and financial speculation.

Source: PR department of MEF

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