Ep. 364: Gute Enteignung, böse Enteignung?
Summary
Hosts Wolfgang and Ole analyze the German government's rejection of housing nationalization, contrasting it with state interventions for infrastructure or energy security. They discuss historian Nicholas Mulder’s work on recent waves of nationalization driven by geopolitical shifts rather than socialist ideals. The episode also previews a reading of Susanne Gregor’s novel on EU labor markets and announces upcoming live events.
Topics discussed
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Introduction: The return of the state and housing policy
Book review: Half a Life and next month's topic
Merz's reform program and the ban on housing expropriation
Examples of state intervention: Infrastructure and Gazprom
Defining 'good' vs 'bad' expropriation in capitalism
Article 14 of the Basic Law: Expropriation for public good
The Deutsche Wohnen initiative and compensation logic
Does the Basic Law explicitly mandate capitalism?
Article 15: Societalization of land and production means
Critique of left-wing socialism and the Gazprom case
Nicholas Mulder on the global return of nationalization
Historical waves of nationalization: 1930s to 1980s
The fourth wave: Geopolitical fragmentation and state power
Conclusion: Nationalization as state power, not socialism
Upcoming events and tour dates
Silicon Valley Bank and First Citizens Bank ad
Avatar: Fire and Ash trailer
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