Domingos Amaral on the current crisis of ideologies

In his opinion piece for the business daily Diário Económico author Domingos Amaral writes that the economic crisis is also an ideological crisis, for "no ideology of the past 100 years can offer a solution to the present crisis - neither Marxism nor economic nationalism nor liberalism. ... The theories of Marx ceased to be of any value long ago. ... In a globalised world there is no chance for all workers to unite because their interests often conflict. ... As far as economic nationalism is concerned, no rationally thinking person would block borders and reintroduce the high customs that once restricted trade. Today no one wants to and no one can put a stop to free trade in the world. This leaves only liberalism. ... Less state was in many cases synonymous with more mistakes and problems. The liberalism of Thatcher and Reagan has fallen into discredit in view of the current state of affairs, and therefore offers no valid solution. So what's left? Nothing - at least from an ideological point of view. Now all we can do is discuss to what extent the state should intervene in the economy."

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