luxon@bookwyrm.social reviewed Es geht auch anders by Elke Kahr
Es geht auch anders
3 stars
(Context: Elke Kahr was elected mayor of Graz, Austria's second-largest city, two years ago. She's a member of the Communist Party of Austria and self-describes as a Marxist)
I find this a remarkable book. The contents are basic, it's really just a long-form chance for Kahr to espouse her political views, the journalist that's supposedly doing the interrogating does not show up except for in a fawning foreword and then, presumably, as the supplier of the 6 questions that frame the chapters.
But what strikes me is the sheer simplicity of the messaging. I swim in an educated, leftish circle where nobody would dare explain what communism means to them by referring to John Lennon's "Imagine" and "Working Class Hero", but, and this is important, where also nobody manages to win any fucking elections. Kahr speaks like a moderator on public TV, appealing to a 40+ crowd with day-to-day concerns …
(Context: Elke Kahr was elected mayor of Graz, Austria's second-largest city, two years ago. She's a member of the Communist Party of Austria and self-describes as a Marxist)
I find this a remarkable book. The contents are basic, it's really just a long-form chance for Kahr to espouse her political views, the journalist that's supposedly doing the interrogating does not show up except for in a fawning foreword and then, presumably, as the supplier of the 6 questions that frame the chapters.
But what strikes me is the sheer simplicity of the messaging. I swim in an educated, leftish circle where nobody would dare explain what communism means to them by referring to John Lennon's "Imagine" and "Working Class Hero", but, and this is important, where also nobody manages to win any fucking elections. Kahr speaks like a moderator on public TV, appealing to a 40+ crowd with day-to-day concerns and little academic interests. Throughout the book, and it's my understanding that this is basically her political brand, Kahr just seems like a pleasant, very decent person who cares about the people around her and wants things to be better for them. I will aspire to communicate like her.
On a political level, there are two things I find interesting. The first is the frequently reported-on self-imposed cap on politician's salaries at about the level of an educated worker. I am not convinced that any successful left-wing party in Europe needs to adapt this practice.
The second is how the party and the government sees itself in relationship to the administration:
"Inzwischen melden sich täglich einige Dutzend Menschen, die in Schwierigkeiten geraten sind, bei der Stadt, bei meinen Kolleginnen und Kollegen und bei mir. […] Würden wir diese Menschen, die sich vertrauens- und hoffnungsvoll an uns gewandt haben, einfach an das zuständige Amt beziehungsweise an die zuständigen politischen Referentinnen und Referenten weiterleiten, würden das viele als Abweisung verstehen. Andererseits können wir als Stadtregierung und Partei die Verwaltung mit ihrer vollen Kompetenz natürlich nicht ersetzen. Es braucht also ein Klima der gegenseitigen Wertschätzung, bei dem wir die Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter in den Ämtern nicht bevormunden, während sie unseren direkten Zugang zu den Menschen respektieren. Dass dies möglich ist, zeigt, dass unser politischer Stil über Parteigrenzen hinweg Menschen motivieren kann."
They place themselves as the first point of interaction for the citizens and then refer them to the relevant administrative sectors. I find this interesting because it's not how political parties I'm familiar with act, and it strikes me as communist in the sense of trying to become part of the day-to-day life, rather than just seeking parliamentary representation.