Neotribal Capitalism and Co-Governance
Capitalism creates prosperity. But its relentless drive to accumulate must be controlled by democratic politics. Neotribal economic corporations (the 'neo' means they are different from the pre-modern tribal re-distributive economy) are like socialist ones. They merge the economy with politics. Dangerously, they institutionalise the merger in legislation, policy and practice. Because those combined interests are invisible, they are unchallengeable.
Democracy first required the separation of politics and religon. It also requires the separation of politics and the economy. Co-governance is the antithesis of this separation. The only political philosophy able to effect the separation is liberalism. This is because liberalism has the individual citizen, not the tribe or class, as the political category. It is citizens, operating through parliamentary accountability, who must regulate capitalism. This requires all political actions to be visible so that all are challengeable.
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SUBMISSION TO THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE COMMITTEE ON THE NEW ZEALAND–INDIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
The Submission describes how the term 'indigenous' entered New Zealand's political language. I explain why it serves retribalisation politics. Article 13.2. of the FTA expressly affirms the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). I ask the Committee to recommend the removal of Article 13.2(a) before ratification.
