GERMAN CAPITALISM adapted itself to Nazi rule with a minimum of fuss and bother. This is hardly surprising, since Adolf Hitler and his National Socialists were the capitalists’ best defence against the Communist Party of Germany – the political force which frightened Germany’s ruling-class the most. So long as the critical cultural and scientific infrastructure of Germany’s economic system remained intact, its capitalists neither criticised, nor resisted (to any significant degree) the Nazi regime’s monstrous crimes.
The question raised by German capitalism’s close collaboration with the Nazis nevertheless remains a troubling one. Was its amorality peculiar to the German people, or is a willingness to set aside moral considerations a feature baked into all capitalist systems – including our own?
In spite of their name, and especially after Hitler and the SS had purged its Stormtrooper militia of all those who took the socialist half of National Socialism seriously, the Nazis would prove to be a powerfully reinvigorating tonic for a capitalist system brought to its knees by the Great Depression. The full-scale rearmament of Germany, crucial to the Nazi project of securing “living space” in the east, reduced unemployment dramatically, lifted the living-standards of the ordinary German worker, and restored capitalist profitability – all with astonishing speed.
With the outbreak of war, especially its extension to the Soviet Union, and following Hitler’s declaration of war on the United States, German capitalism’s adaptation to the realities of global conflict involved it, increasingly, in activities of unprecedented human depravity. Not only were German capitalists forced to accept slave labour as indispensable to the maintenance of the Third Reich’s war production, but they were also required to involve themselves in determining the most efficient methods for keeping their slaves alive and working, and for how long.
Paradoxically, the necessity of boosting war production forced German capitalism to become vastly more efficient than it had been in the pre-war years. In Germany, as in the United States, the Soviet Union and Great Britain, mass production and economies of scale rationalised industrial production in ways that would force the world’s most powerful states to shape the “peace” of the post-war world in conformity with the needs of what came to be known as “Military Keynesianism”.
Following Germany’s surrender in 1945, American capitalists were keen to “compare notes” with their German equivalents. All agreed that while the need to fill the depleted ranks of the Wehrmacht with more and more German workers made the use of first, women, and then slaves, unavoidable; forced labour in the context of complex industrial processes was grossly inefficient.
Not that these inefficiencies prevented the I.G. Farben industrial conglomerate from establishing a vast synthetic rubber production plant on the outskirts of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Now in the territory of the Polish Republic, the plant’s successor operation remains in production to this day – one of the largest such facilities in the European Union.
Capitalism, like the cockroach, is infinitely adaptable – and very hard to kill.
Which raises the question of how New Zealand capitalism (and foreign-owned capitalist enterprises operating in New Zealand) are likely to react to a fundamental cultural and political power-shift from Pakeha to Māori – as envisioned in the He Puapua Report of 2019. Would such a radical and racially-charged re-constitution of the New Zealand state prompt capitalist resistance, or would New Zealand’s capitalists, like their German counterparts of the 1930s, simply adapt themselves, and their businesses, to the requirements of the new regime?
The first point to acknowledge is that German capitalists, regardless of their personal feelings towards the Nazis, were, as a class, in broad sympathy with their objectives. Reassured by Hitler that the “socialist” part of national socialism should not be taken seriously, the leaders of German industry and finance poured money into the Nazi Party’s coffers, and endured the street violence and antisemitism of its brownshirts as an unfortunate political necessity. Not only did Nazism hold out the promise of rising profits, but it was also in sympathy, culturally and politically, with the most powerful elements of German society.
Can the same be said of the most powerful elements of New Zealand society? Broadly speaking, the answer is Yes.
The creation of neo-tribal capitalism, via the Treaty settlement process, beginning under the National Party in the early 1990s, was welcomed by New Zealand’s leading capitalists as infinitely preferable to the radical politicisation of a Māori working-class immiserated by Rogernomics and Ruthanasia. A Māori “renaissance”, guided by traditional iwi leaders working hand-in-glove with the Crown, was containable. An angry cultural “revolution”, fuelled by poverty, and sweeping up poor Pakeha in its wake, was not.
The Māori and Pakeha urban poor, united in pursuit of a bi-cultural and socialist Aotearoa has been the New Zealand capitalists worst nightmare ever since their own, neoliberal, revolution in the mid-1980s. Just as the Communist Party of Germany terrified the German ruling-class, a flax-roots alliance of the brown and the white and the poor, is what New Zealand capitalism has always feared the most.
That is why neo-tribal capitalism and the He Puapua prescription are political manna from heaven for Pakeha capitalism. The deep cultural, social and political divisions which the co-governance project is bound to stir up is the perfect prophylactic against the horizontal unity engendered by a flax-roots rebellion of the poor (of all colours) against the rich (of all colours). The deep, deep cynicism of the Crown is almost admirable. To forestall a revolt from below – led by the Māori working-class – it first summoned into existence a neo-tribal capitalist Māori elite, and then joined hands with it to keep the poor in check.
As the machinery of repression is rolled into place in advance of this new, undemocratic – but te Tiriti affirming – Aotearoa, New Zealand capitalists will hold themselves aloof from all the violence directed against the “racist settler” resistance. They may wince at the shutdown of dissenting media, and shake their heads sadly as the “wrong sort” of parties are proscribed, and defiant democratic resisters are carted off to jail, but, like their German counterparts in 1933, they will not lift a finger to save “New Zealand”. Like the Weimar Republic before it, the good and the bad of the doomed “Settler State” will be swept into the dustbin of history.
New Zealand capitalism, however, now a proudly bi-cultural affair, will survive – and prosper.
Where does this stuff come from? In which paraellel universe has NZs working class – Maori or otherwise – ever stood up to Capital. In fact – name a Western country where this has happened.
France is the only country I can think of where the working class will actually turn of Sky Sport and close down their capital city.
The working class are, for the most part, cap doffing, subservient and very easy to manipulate politically. Stop heroizing the working class – it’s a fairy story.
As for provocatively comparing Nazism to co-governance – this is simply disrespectful and – I suspect – deliberate. Do you know why co-governance has come about? Do you understand our history? Have you read the Treaty?
The alternative to co-governance is civil war – a war in which Maori or Pakeha are militarily defeated – something that didn’t happen back in the 1800’s.
And BTW democracy isn’t so awesome and special when you’re a minority that gets repeatedly shat on by the majority.
Maori have never had grievance against the neighbour. We stand against the state.
Peter Bradley: “The working class are, for the most part, cap doffing, subservient and very easy to manipulate politically.”
Thus spake a member of the middle class. I and many others come from the so-called working class. For most of my working life, I worked in that sector of NZ society. The working class in my experience is very far from being subservient. But it does tend to be very conservative. The ideas of the elites and the liberal left don’t go down well, as a rule.
“…comparing Nazism to co-governance – this is simply disrespectful….”
Again: thus spake a member of the middle class – and liberal left. Co-governance isn’t democracy. In that respect, it resembles Nazism. Just ask the citizens of the Donbass in particular about that: the regime in Kiev is, by said regime’s own admission, neo-Nazi.
“Do you know why co-governance has come about? Do you understand our history? Have you read the Treaty?”
In my case, yes to all three questions. Co-governance is a concept dreamed up by a relatively small number of activists. Read “He Puapua” if you haven’t already.
I have read the Treaty in both languages. As with all such documents, what you see is what you get. There is no mention of principles, partnership or co-governance. Nor would there have been: this was a Treaty enacted in the name of the Queen, and these were her subjects. Such concepts couldn’t have been contemplated. As an aside, the word “Aotearoa” isn’t used in the Treaty, either.
Moreover, at the Kohimarama conference about 20 years after the signing of the Treaty, it was made abundantly clear that the signatories knew exactly what they’d agreed to. It’s patronising in the extreme, for people to suggest, as some do, that the signatories didn’t understand what they were signing. Give them credit for intelligence. Moreover, the Kohimarama conference reinforced that they understood it full well.
“The alternative to co-governance is civil war…”
Nonsense. Talk about hysterical….
“….when you’re a minority that gets repeatedly shat on by the majority.”
Are you referring to Maori? The group from which candidates were elected in 2019 to local authorities in more or less exact proportion to their numbers in the population? And whose representation in parliament under the aegis of MMP is also proportional? If you would argue something different, you must provide evidence.
An alliance between big state and big business is the essence of fascism, that didn’t turn out so well.
While “NZ capitalism” may be willing to go with the flow, as far as co-governance is concerned, many individual capitalists are, overtly and covertly, strongly resisting it. Put it this way; I don’t think ACT, for example, are going to be lacking funding for the next election.
Already a key problem in the NZ economy is lack of capital. This has been the case for decades. We undercapitalise in all our industries through lack of fixed investment, resulting in low value added products that we sell on the cheap. This is why we remain poor.
Actual capitalists – you know- the people who control lots of it, look askance at countries with dodgy administrations and go elsewhere with their dough. Money and the people who control it are mobile.
If we continue down this route they will avoid NZ and we will all become significantly poorer. The country will become a large version of Fiji: Poor, ignorant and riven with tribal and ethnic tensions.
I spent 20 years in Africa and have witnessed this process several times. We’re on the edge of a really dangerous slippery slope here. Step back!
The government went from 10 billion to 50 billion of borrowing and you’re here bitching about lack of investment. That’s just delusional. The issue has always been getting the distribution correct.
Andrew: “I spent 20 years in Africa and have witnessed this process several times. We’re on the edge of a really dangerous slippery slope here. Step back!”
I agree. My generation was witness to events in Africa following WW2, especially in the 1970s and later. We never anticipated the possibility that this country could fall down the same rabbit hole. NZ needs to be aware of how tragically all of this could go wrong.
“…a large version of Fiji: Poor, ignorant and riven with tribal and ethnic tensions.”
Exactly.
Maybe it’d be different if Maori nationalists didn’t have time to prep. But with prep, the one that’s massively more technologically advanced wins.
The main problem here is starting the revolution or Renaissance or whatever from a very low level of NZDF preparedness and readiness and very low resourcing. It’s likely that abruptly confronted with a national socialist movement or what ever then people will join the military or police or politics or whatever who we don’t really want.
NZDF just doesn’t have the weight of men and material to fight a national movement. What happens if South Auckland and West Auckland fully surrenders to ideology of ram raiders. What happens if the education system is so far gone the ram raiders have children of their own.
My guess is Kiwi solders request and direct airstrikes/artillery against the children of ram raiders, NZDF just don’t have the weight to do anything else. Or submit to co governance.
Weird how a small percentage of Maori nationalists with the support and leadership of the vigilante woke warriors on their me, me, me, career paths, with probable financing of ultra right wing libertarian capitalists and foreign spies, seem to be able to undermine democracy so easily around NZ.
Since 1983 to 2021 interest rates went from about 20% to almost zero. Now it’s going back up again for very good reasons, most reasons already articulated by Bomber.
One reason not already mentioned is how Maori nationalists rig their own life time appointments, consult with below 15 year old educated adults, they’re the only ones who show up. The rest of us are to busy working or what ever.
It’s a missunderstanding of statistics. Maori nationalists just can’t come to any logical conclusion consulting with at best a tenth of the Maori population then scaling up what they hear with state funding.
I’m Tuhoe so I’ll speak about my experience of Ngai Tuhoe Crown relations.
So 200 colonial police come in in the 19th century, smash the place to bits. Then again in 2008.
Then a few years later Ngai Tuhoe settle all greviences with the crown with the Final words from Tamiti Kruger claiming “Ngai Tuhoe is settled,” and “(his) work is over.
Then this year in 2022 Kruger deepens the relationship Ngai Tuhoe has with The Ministry of Social Development against his own people claiming in a statement a couple of months ago (you can look it up on the YouTube account named Ngai Tuhoe)
Incredible indeed. I prefer to think that one person one vote might just be strongly enough ingrained to finish co-governance. Sure all those woke public purse sucking types and their ethnic political mates might drive their agenda but they won’t ultimately have the numbers.
I’m expecting competition for resources accelerates as China raises the rest of it’s population into the middle classes and less everywhere else.
The maori culture must be protected from the hords of mega migrating human locusts if we are to have anyway of differentiating ourselves from globalization.
Since 1983 to 2021 interest rates went from about 20% to almost zero. Now it’s going back up again for very good reasons, most reasons already articulated by Bomber.
One reason not already mentioned is how Maori nationalists rig their own life time appointments, consult with below 15 year old educated adults, they’re the only ones who show up. The rest of us are to busy working or what ever.
It’s a missunderstanding of statistics. Maori nationalists just can’t come to any logical conclusion consulting with at best a tenth of the Maori population then scaling up what they hear with state funding.
I’m Tuhoe so I’ll speak about my experience of Ngai Tuhoe Crown relations.
So 200 colonial police come in in the 19th century, smash the place to bits. Then again in 2008.
Then a few years later Ngai Tuhoe settle all greviences with the crown with the Final words from Tamiti Kruger claiming “Ngai Tuhoe is settled,” and “(his) work is over.
Then this year in 2022 Kruger deepens the relationship Ngai Tuhoe has with The Ministry of Social Development against his own people claiming in a statement a couple of months ago that the Ngai Tuhoe Crown relationship of 5 yearly incremental change is beyond what Kruger calls “Promenading” which is his fancy word for protester (you can look it up on the YouTube account named Ngai Tuhoe)
Not only is deinflationary policy such as incrementalism of the last 30 years being kicked down the road a little bit more it’s literally the opposite of how to operate in an inflationary environment.
Why on earth would Ngai Tuhoe build dirt roads to nowhere for tourists that will never come. Tourists don’t just come because of a few dirt roads and a few admin buildings they come for an experience and experience and skills is really difficult to develop when the starting point is beyond the “Promenaders.”
Interesting analysis.
What amazes me is how the left is sleep walking towards fascism without even seeing it.
Everyone is always trying to claim that there fascism/racism is not real fascism/racism.
That’s because the left arent ‘the left’ anymore, just capitalists with identarian pretensions.
Anker. Yes. “What amazes me is how the left is sleep walking towards fascism without even seeing it. “ Rightly or wrongly I attribute much of this to the identity politics Green parliamentarians who still can’t see past the end of their own lunatic noses; to what extent the Labour leaders are aware or care, is a moot point.
I notice in NZ that the worst virtue signallers about a capitalist/woke version of co-governance seem to be linked to the largest capitalists and high level polluters or government departments that are the most dysfunctional. Or thinly qualified woke warriors spreading false information about others to benefit themselves.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/travel/2020/10/it-s-heartbreaking-air-new-zealand-job-cuts-continue-as-hundreds-more-cabin-crew-made-redundant-report.html
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/129558770/air-nz-considering-bringing-in-staff-from-overseas-while-former-workers-still-out-of-a-job
NZ’s most dysfunctional government departments can’t seem to do they job they are supposed to do and spend significantly while not achieving positive outcomes for their clients.
‘Not fit for purpose’: Waka Kotahi road safety team faces restructure
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/waka-kotahi-unit-facing-restructure-deemed-no-longer-effective-documents-reveal/
Waka Kotahi siphons $500m out of Taranaki to spend elsewhere says mayor
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/stratford-press/news/waka-kotahi-siphons-500m-out-of-taranaki-to-spend-elsewhere-says-mayor/6LZWQYMTLTAG5U5EXYNPZBQSX4/
Auckland sitting on $285m fuel tax windfall, with more than half of all fuel tax unspent
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/auckland-sitting-on-285m-fuel-tax-windfall-with-more-than-half-of-all-fuel-tax-unspent/SJ7CZTRYORTV5JALUH2V5QNERQ/
Revealed: Kāinga Ora spent over $24m of taxpayer money in four years on its own office renovations
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/03/revealed-kainga-ora-spent-over-24m-of-taxpayer-money-in-four-years-on-its-own-office-renovations.html
Government faces 60-year debt blowout after building costs explode
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/government-faces-60-year-debt-blowout-after-building-costs-explode/R7L54GYHNIEJD3Z6TQDFOYRJMI/
Helping high levels of obesity and diabetes, (NZ and foreign owned chocolate and chip companies) for food companies high in fat and sugar.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/08/19/wait-are-we-tic-tok-sacking-a-bluebird-manager-for-a-dumb-comment/
BTW woke don’t speak for all Maori.
Elizabeth Rata: The Decolonisation of Education in New Zealand
https://democracyproject.nz/2022/04/22/elizabeth-rata-the-decolonisation-of-education-in-new-zealand/
Woke media helps spread misinformation about other voices (including Maori) from woke vigilantes close to government.
Media Council upholds professors’ complaint
https://www.stuff.co.nz/about-stuff/complaints-and-corrections/127946397/media-council-upholds-professors-complaint
Karl du Fresne: The intriguing circumstances in which Joanna Kidman was appointed to show us the way against hatred and extremism
https://breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2022/07/karl-du-fresne-intriguing-circumstances.html
Oh dear oh dear oh bloody dear – I see the smarmy smiling faces of John Key and Chris Luxon, and think you’re right – oh help! but what about David Seymour? Dare we rely on one brave man to save us? And the FSU and the TPU – and all the bloggers. What we hear some of but never really know in the public forum, is the fern-root Maori voice. I can’t give up on Kiwis yet.
So ein Vergleich is unangemessen.
That fills certain gaps in my mind. I pondered on how an advanced country like Germany with advanced halls of learning could fall so low morally but I think this indicates reasonably how it happened. I keep thinking uneasily that we are in a phony war, in a period with similarities to the 1930s. in Germany and worldwide.
Human nature if we don’t know ourselves well and clearly, and be controlled, develops like John Wyndham’s triffids which were exceptionally useful oil-producing plants I think, but with an unpleasant whip containing poison that would ensure them of their required nutrients from rotting animal carcasses. We in NZ are already feeling the sting from our unrealised predators.
I thought this piece of news was interesting – https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/473734/bullish-investors-pour-1b-into-new-radiology-services-in-a-year.
There will be money available for keeping people who can afford to pay alive, or feeling better with the latest inventions and medications. One of my relatives is paying some odd amount like $5000 for pills to maintain his capabilities, once a month or so? People can find money to keep themselves going, but very little to support those around them, who seem just part of the backdrop on a stage. Do we lose our humanity, empathy, compassion, sense of community, once we earn enough to reach a ‘comfortable’ level? Is it I’m alright Jack then…?
Peter Bradley 9.00
Peter Bradley Who are you addressing when you say this? It sounds rude and implies your own perfect understanding of all. I really doubt that.
Do you know why co-governance has come about? Do you understand our history? Have you read the Treaty?
Everything that humans say and think can be critiqued from a different perspective.
I fear that you haven’t got the hang of Runsfeld’s? little sermon about the things you know and the things you don’t know that you don’t know. Just point out your perspective so we can also see it and show what we appear to have missed, not take that hectoring tone. You aren’t the fount of all knowledge.
I can see Winston licking his lips just waiting to enter the fray. He will call a spade a spade with regards co governance
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