It is said about ex-communist European countries that they have rapidly moved from communism to capitalism. If one ignores the interesting phenomenon that a kind of capitalism already existed within the communist systems (as there were various), one also has to consider the political reality that relatively-sudden changes are rarely mild in nature. When the pot boils, the lid does not slide gently off to one side. It often hits the ceiling.
The same phenomena, to an extent, may be observed in many pseudo-communist individuals who, in reality, made capitalist extremists look like gentle lambs.
Communist capitalism was just a form of opportunism and communist capitalists just a serious case of feverish introversion.
It is less easy to see through the opacity of communist capitalists than through systems of communist capitalism. For ex-communist governments cannot hide their new capitalist behaviour under a stone. Communist capitalists, on the other hand, are an opaque breed capable of easily switching colours on and off like clever chameleons.
The hue of these chameleons consisted of habit and discourse. The ideology they used as a façade projected a shabby appearance hiding their wealth. They would joke, scratch their head full of ruffled hair (if not creatures) and scrape their wild stubble to prove that they really were political peasants. Their communism was romantic. Their pockets may have smelled but it could have been ink. For their ego was wrapped in an innocent virgin sheet and those who understood their reluctant transparency entertained the idea that they indeed were full of sheet.
Their discourse was even more socialist than that of genuine political Christians and their eyes shed easy tears at the plight of the suffering masses. At the same time, they were always ready to pounce on those who unmasked them. So they proceeded to turn the un-masker into one of the suffering masses. Indeed, communist romanticism is capable of turning into ruthless insensitivity at the least whistleblow.
Naïve capitalism
A Maltese lady marries a foreigner. The lady has a brilliant education, a good job and un-ignorable savings. The husband has excellent qualifications which lead to a solid job, although not as attractive as the one he had back home. But love is love and he has abandoned his stability to join his wife here as per her culturo-patriotic desires.
The husband has one personal bank account. The wife has a few. After a while, the husband also wishes to have another account in another bank. He does not want to keep his savings from a good salary in one bank. He speaks to a banker from the prospective second bank. The banker treats him like a suspicious person and asks all sorts of intruding questions while demanding several guarantees. The Maltese wife provides the guarantees but Maltese conservatism considers female guarantees as not serious. The banker prefers guarantees from the husband's first bank. In Malta, there is a saying which goes something like "to uncover your back in front of people" although the anatomy part used in the expression is a more southern territory.
The second banker would not listen. The foreign husband is serious, hard working, very well integrated in Maltese society with a love for the Maltese language and culture while contributing to Maltese charities. He is refused a new account, which does not at all involve any borrowing but just deposits from his salary. So there is no risk of borrowing and disappearing with the loot, which, considering the collateral usually demanded, is not easy anyway.
The husband takes his money to a third bank, which immediately opens an account for him. A bank's attitude is normally one of positive capitalism. Banking seduction includes rationality and reasonable procedures which "grab" a new customer.
The banker from the second bank is a naïve capitalist, that is, a non-capitalist.
Looking forward in French
Robert Musumeci encouraged me to participate in his increasingly popular TV discussion programme. I suggested that several University rectors participate in discussion programmes and perhaps Mr Musumeci should also invite the Malta University Rector in the same discussion with me. Hoping this will materialise.
It is a great pleasure to learn that Laurent Seychell has been appointed HOD French at the University of Malta. He is a modern, progressive linguist who had an admirable success in France, thereby impressing the French "natives" and French diplomacy in Malta which appreciates Maltese success in France. Like Rector Juanito Camilleri, he believes in the socio-economic mission of the University and the cooperation with France in tourism, industry, economics etc. Boring emphasis on French knights in Malta is a thing of the past.
No doubt, Prof. Seychell's expertise will be increasingly consulted in future.
Dr Licari is reading for a second doctorate, in political science, in Paris.