Trägt das Fortschrittsversprechen? Das Programm der Ampelkoalition

The new “traffic light coalition” (red-green-yellow representing the participating parties) commenced its term of office with the claim to “dare more progress“, and against this claim the coalition programme should be measured. This is what the article sets out to do. It demonstrates that the ambitious goal of ecological transformation in the programme repeatedly collides with the underlying concept of progress as growth, competitiveness and technical efficiency. A stern commitment to balanced budgets and opposition to redistributive measures further narrows down the range of possible political action. This has particularly negative consequences with regard to issues of social inequality which are barely addressed in the programme. Looking at the change of government in the context of the international debate about the potential demise of “neoliberalism“, Germany is an example of course modification rather than change in direction. The implications in times of ecological and social crises are discussed with a particular focus on the challenges for trade unions.