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The war in Ukraine: Consequences for the economy, labour class and equitable development in Europe and beyond

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 June 2023

Piotr Żuk Open the ORCID record for Piotr Żuk [Opens in a new window]
Piotr Żuk*
Affiliation:
The Centre for Civil Rights and Democracy Research, Wrocław, Poland
*
Email: piotr.zuk@protonmail.com
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Abstract

This article encourages critical discussion about the economic and social consequences of the war in Ukraine. This war has global effects in various dimensions of social life: energy policy, the environmental dimension, the economic sphere, and also the political atmosphere. In each of these dimensions, it poses a threat to sustainable development and the interests of the labour class in Europe. It attempts to change the balance of power in global geopolitics and also proves to be a useful cover for attempts to change the model of relations between employees and the state and business in many European countries. Due to the conflict in Ukraine and the ensuing calls for increased efforts to ‘ensure security’, Europe has turned towards a war economy in which the interests of the arms industry are more important than the interests of the working classes. The war in Ukraine has proved to be an excellent justification for governments to lower social standards and get rid of the remnants of the welfare state. From this perspective, the atmosphere of the New Cold War becomes a challenge for the labour movement, the global left and all progressive social circles.

Keywords

energy policyglobal capitalismneoliberal nationalismrisk of povertywar economyB50J70J83N40P16
Type
Contested Terrains
Information
The Economic and Labour Relations Review , Volume 34 , Issue 2 , June 2023 , pp. 343 - 356
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of UNSW Canberra

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Footnotes

Contested Terrains articles are peer reviewed. The Contested Terrains articles present analysis and discussion of emerging, immediate, or controversial issues

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