DDIntel - Ideology at War, Space Tourism, and the Decline of Neoliberalism

Ideology is an important tentpole of any philosophy and social structure. Whether you like it or not, the world is shaped by principles born from ideological foundations. From the earliest times of human civilization to the rise of Nazi Germany in Europe to the cold war, important events in history have all been shaped by dogma.

Currently, in Europe, these ideologies are once again shaping geopolitics as we see it. On the one side of the conflict, we have president Putin, fueled by authoritarianism and nostalgia for the communistic USSR. On the other hand, Ukraine. A state that is desperately trying to escape the shadow of the iron curtain. A nation begging to be bound by NATO.

Although markedly different from the cold war era, we see history repeat itself in Europe. Ideology is not bad; conviction is important, but wielding it as a political weapon is dangerous.

As we see the war taking shape in Ukraine, Putin wields ideology as a weapon. We’ve all heard Putin make claims about de-nazifying Ukraine. It is these very comments that make the war in Europe dangerous. Consequently, ideology can be used as a scapegoat for other actions, ones of consequence.

In this issue of DDintel, we continue to cover the Ukraine Russia crisis. We analyze whether neoliberalism’s ideological position is becoming outdated, and why it is important to remain consistent with your investing despite the world’s struggles. 

Derek Notman is a financial expert and advisor. He is a FinTech CEO and has his own finance service platform online. After years in the finance industry helping his clientele, Derek has become a successful expert in this area. Derek can help you with wealth management, leadership, entrepreneurship, and digital/content marketing. Book a DDIChat session with Derek here.

The structure of world politics and economics has been turned on its head. As Russian troops continue to bomb the capital of Ukraine and other provincial cities, political leaders are coming to terms with the sudden change in geopolitics on the European continent. Many see the Ukraine Russian war as a shift in power from the west to the east, changing the dynamics of state-to-state interaction. Thus, neoliberalism is presumed dead. Gone are the days of market-oriented reform policies and a state-centered economy. There is a new sheriff in town, Russia, and a form of warfare we haven’t seen in the west since the 1940s. But what does this conflict mean for markets? Find out more in the above article.

Becoming rich is hard, let alone staying rich, arguably even harder. But what stops you from becoming rich? Well, probably a fair few things. Esteemed writer Tim Denning outlines several reasons ordinary people fail to get rich. In his article, he summarizes why people don’t make the big time, concluding that it is simply down to a lack of execution of ideas. Likewise, Tim suggests living paycheck to paycheck while your investments reap financial freedom. There is no better person than Tim Denning to help solve your money woes. Give his article a read.

The tourism industry took a significant hit during the covid-19 pandemic, but thankfully as we come out the other side of Covid, it is bouncing back. We are used to traditional tourism methods, flying to a country, exploring, and buying exotic merchandise. However, this may soon change as billionaires like Elon Musk push humanity towards being a race that can live outside earth. Space tourism is the next frontier for the tourism industry. But will it take off as a business? Currently, space packages are an expensive premium for the very elite. Likewise, will the general public adopt the idea of space with open arms? In theory, it makes sense, right? The next frontier for humanity in space. But to what avail? Will society be so easily convinced? Find out more in the above article.

Nation-states are not the only powerful global bodies frustrated at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Multinational corporations are also criticizing Russia’s actions. One of those is the technology giant Apple. Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, has announced that his company will stop product sales in Russia. Likewise, Apple has stopped exports into the country. Apple is not the only company stopping activities in Russia; other brands such as Nike have also followed suit. Thus, the Russian Ukraine war is shaping business around the globe. Robert C. gives more detail on Apple’s stance, highlighting why the company has decided to act.

Better health care provision and improved quality of life have increased human life expectancy. Over the last couple of decades, it has risen dramatically. Currently, the average life expectancy in the UK is 81 years old. For governments, economic pressure, combined with overpopulation, has also increased retirement age. Thus, the workforce is aging, but what does it mean for the workplace and its economics? Tavian Jean-Pierre gives us the answers to this question in the above article. Although none of us want to get old, we all value work and the benefits it brings, but can a balance be struck? Find out!

What can fix the London stock exchanges dinosaur, archaic-like image? Probably not a lot. The stock exchange is well known throughout the financial community, but probably not for all the right reasons. It often has a hard job attracting growth companies that spur investor interest. Thus there needs to be a change in the London stock market. What can turn this dinosaur into a unicorn? Well, Dmytro Spilka thinks he has the answer. He suggests easing listing regulations alongside other interesting measures. If you hate the London stock exchange as much as some people do, it is worth reading this insightful article.

Want to know the best NFT drops to invest in over the last few days? Then look no further than the article above. Christian Jensen outlines three of the best NFT drops on March 3rd. If you haven’t managed to get on the NFT trend, make sure to read this article. NFTs have been all the rage over the last 12 months and are not likely to slow down. NFT projects every day are getting released. Thus it is important to understand what to invest in and what not to invest in. As we approach web3, having this understanding is more important than ever.

Consistency can be a powerful thing. With anything in life, it is important to stick with something until you’ve given it your best shot. It’s the same for your investments. Sticking by them despite market chaos may reward you in the future. The covid-19 pandemic and the Russian war have made markets very volatile. But despite this, you shouldn’t give up on investing. Destiny S. Harris explains why being consistent and focused with your investments is important in a world where all things seem to be going bad.