euro|topics - Peter Filzmaier

02/12/2008

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Filzmaier, Peter

3 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.

Der Standard - Austria | 27/12/2006

The future of Web 2.0

According to columnist Peter Filzmaier, the Internet, which is supposedly accessible to all, is not doing much for democracy or politics. He points out that the vision of "online forums as neo-Agora" has turned out to be an illusion, and explains why. "The traditional parties are using massive web campaigns and providing false information given under false identities to manipulate social movements... There is a modern class society consisting of a majority of internet consumers who are mostly 'unqualified' and a minority of highly competent users. Only the latter can use the Internet consistently for political education, political activities and political participation. The rest just gets bread and games."

Der Standard - Austria | 29/11/2006

No heart for Europe

In the latest 'Eurobarometer', the twice-yearly, EU-Commission survey of member countries on EU-relevant themes, Austria ranks at the bottom of the scale - that is, in 25th place - with respect to what people think of the EU. "You can't go any lower," Peter Filzmaier scoffs, adding with concern: "After the ballyhoo over our presidency, the theme of the EU has vanished from the scene here. All the political parties long ago turned with zeal to the lowlands of domestic policy. It is as if Austria didn't feel it belonged to the EU. According to conservative estimates, two thirds of the laws are passed in Brussels. But the Belgian capital just serves as a scratching post for the spread of populism. One can find fault with Alfred Gusenbauer and Wolfgang Schüssel, though they have no lack of interest in a united Europe. Yet in their parties people say: Anyone who ends up in Brussels is in a kind of exile. 'They never come back!' At least not to important positions."

Der Standard - Austria | 21/06/2006

US-European summit in Vienna

Peter Filzmaier criticises Europeans' "superficial yet socially acceptable anti-Americanism" and suggests a new angle for criticism of the US that encompasses the so-called "grey zones", those "regions that have been hit by humanitarian disasters yet are the victims of the US's indifference." "We certainly shouldn't restrict ourselves to criticising the US for its role as world policeman. That smacks of double standards because Europe itself has no plans for how to deal, for example, with North Korea's preparations for nuclear warfare. Moreover, it's the pseudo pacifists in the Iraq affair who called loudest for US military intervention when it came to getting rid of Milosevic in Serbia. It would be more credible and at least as important for Europeans to criticise the Americans for not doing anything to help the poorest of the poor."

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