‘Progressive Protectionism’ details why ever more open borders are increasing inequality, reducing economic activity and threatening the environment. It explains how countries could rebuild and rediversify their economies by limiting what finance and goods they allow to enter their borders, and in the process wean themselves off export dependence. Domestic businesses and funding sources would then meet the needs of the majority in society in all countries. The prospect of such increasing economic security for the majority could gain widespread political support ranging from those on the left, the centre, the greens through to small ‘c’ conservatives. 
UK should learn from the French election and start discussing a ‘progressive protectionism’
Compass,'the UK's most influential ideas and action based pressure group' has published in its thinkPIECE series a report entitled ‘Progressive Protectionism-the only effective challenge to neoliberalism' by Colin Hines
‘Progressive Protectionism-the only effective challenge to neoliberalism' makes the following points:
- In the French election the left wing socialist Jean-Luc Melenchon has stressed the need to relocalise Europe’s economy and to do so by limiting imports. Not surprisingly such left wing ‘protectionism’ has brought Melenchon increased votes in a country where 70% of the population favour some form of protection for domestic production from cheaper, lower waged competitors. Marine Le Pen has also benefited by calling for protectionism.
- This under reported aspect in the French elections is an opportunity to call for a debate about the need for a ‘progressive protectionism’ in the UK and Europe wide. Progressive protectionism rejects the ubiquitous calls for open markets and the need to be internationally competitive. Acceptance of these edicts as inevitable by the three main political parties drives down tax rates, worsens social and environmental conditions and kills local jobs and small business opportunities.
- Whistling in the dark to keep up the nation’s economic spirits by promising hi tech export- led growth in an era of rising Asian dominance is the last colonial delusion. The alternative is to propose a set of practical measures for protecting and re-diversifying local economies by limiting what goods they let in and what funds they choose to enter or leave the country. Most importantly, in the process they will wean themselves off of their export dependence. This will allow space for domestic funding and business to meet most of the needs of the majority in society.
- Proposing policies that would result in the grounding of manufacturing, money and services here in the UK would enable politicians and activists to call the bluff of relocation threatening big business and finance, who at present have the whip hand over all politicians who support open markets.
- This is the only way to tackle the economic and environmental crises, return local control of the economy to citizens and provide a sense of security and hope for their future. If implemented it could play a crucial role in seeing off the rise of the extreme right, as this invariably flourishes when the sense of insecurity within the majority worsens. At present none of the policies offered by parties of any political hue are likely to tackle this in the way that progressive protectionism can.
- Of course such a radical change in economic direction inherent in progressive protectionismcould not be introduced in one country alone, since the money markets would ferociously destabilise such a challenge to their present dominance of the world economy. Europe is facing huge threats from the forces of international finance, yet the continent would be a powerful enough bloc to implement a programme of progressive protectionism, particularly if the politically active started to campaign for it. The time to start the debate is now.
Colin Hines is the convener of the ‘Green New Deal’ group. He coined the term in 2007 and brought together a group of finance, tax, energy and environmental experts to make the case for massive spending on energy savings to help solve the economic crisis. He is at present working on a project in which Birmingham City Council, the largest local authority in Europe, intends to raise £100s of millions to make more than 100,000 properties energy efficient.
