Suchergebnisse

The hypothesis examined here is that the U.S.S.R.'s economic ties with the Third World have essentially the same character as Western-Third World ties. The first section presents data to demonstrate that the U.S.S.R. draws considerable economic advantage from its large trade and loan (aid) activ ity in the Third World. The second section argues that Soviet-Third World eco nomic relations share three important characteristics with Western-Third World economic ties: high profits earned from high prices, reinforcement of an unequal international division of labor, and export of capital. The concluding section has some comments on the principles of socialist foreign economic relations and sug gests that the U.S.S.R.'s behavior is inconsistent with these principles. An appen dix presents evidence that the Soviet economy requires relations with the Third World to provide a market for Soviet output, a source for raw materials, and a site for superprofitable investment.

Late Capitalism, Ernest Mandel's latest and most rigorous work, makes a substantial contribution towards analyzing the dynamics of monopoly capitalism Mandel draws attention to the importance of the distinction between "many capitals" and "social capital " While Mandel begins by rejecting left Keynesianism, he unfortunately reverts in the latter part of Late Capitalism to his earlier underconsumptionism and general equilibrianism His discussion of the "realization problem" ignores capital's nature as self-expanding value Besides its left Keynesiamsm, the other major shortcoming ofLate Capitalism is its view of technol ogical change. The theory of capital accumulation is based on clusters of technological innovations which fall from the sky to spark "long waves" of expan sion. The underlying conception of technology as neutral in the class struggle is characterized as revisionist

Argues that the Islamic Republic of Iran's addiction to oil & consequent eschewing of needed reforms has left the rest of its economy languishing, such that any significant decline in oil prices could lead to a crisis. Iran's economic mismanagement is traced from its imperial era. It is contended that the populaces' unmet expectations for the economic greatness promised by the Shah helped fuel the 1979 Islamic Revolution. With the rise of the revolutionaries, Iran's economy suffered under quasi-socialist policies & the war with Iraq. Economic policies & conditions under Ali Akbar Hashemi Rajsanjani, Mohammad Khatami, & Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are described, along with how international pressures, ie, Western/US economic sanctions, further complicate matters. It is concluded that policymaker ideology trumps common sense & economic wisdom, leaving the Islamic Republic vulnerable to economic disaster. Adapted from the source document.

A review essay of 13 books on democracy in Iran, Islamic revolution, and Persian history.