Suchergebnisse

Focusing on class relationships and the state, this article outlines a perspective for the transition to socialism in the periphery. Inequalities on a world scale and the penetration and interlock of class structures leave little room for peaceful transition. The class-anchored state is identified as playing a pivotal role in the consolidation of the revolution. The need to proceed beyond nationalization to 'demodernize' and 'uproot' rather than merely socialize production is a result of imperial capital's distorted ecological, demographic and productive structures. Alternative 'state capitalist', 'peasant-based revolu tionary' theories of transition are criticized in the course of a revised conception of the role of workers in twentieth century revolution in the Third World.

This book offers a broad and deep examination of the dynamics of US imperialism. Petras analyzes imperialism not only as economic domination, showing that its impact in the world takes many forms, including cultural, political and historical. He points to the disruptive effects it has on other world regional economies and cultures. Capitalism and imperialism take diverse forms but both are intimately tied to the projection of state power in the service of capital - a strategy designed to advance the geopolitical and economic interests of the US economic elite and ruling class - interests that are equated with the 'US national interest'.

Washington faces the Arab revolts : sacrificing dictators to save the state -- Egypt's social movements, the CIA and Mossad -- Roots of the Arab revolts and premature celebrations -- The Euro-US war on Libya : official lies and misconceptions of critics -- Libya and Obama's defense of the "rebel uprising" -- Contextualizing the "Arab spring" : networks of empire and realignments of world power -- NATO's war crimes in Libya : who grieves for the fallen heroes? -- The assassination of Osama bin Laden : its uses and abuses -- The assassination of Anwar al-Awlaki by fiat -- The Obama doctrine : making a virtue of necessity -- What future for the Washington-"Moderate Islamist" alliance? -- Appendix: indicators of social well being in pre-invasion Libya

The popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia have overthrown the public face of the imperial-backed dictatorships in the region, and inspired supporters of popular democracy worldwide. As the Arab revolt spreads from North Africa to the Gulf and widens its demands to include socio-economic as well as political changes, the Empire is striking back. The ruling military junta in Egypt has cracked down on the pro-democracy movement and looks to its autocratic "partners" in the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula to drown the civil society movements in a blood bath. While standing by the crumbling dictatorships elsewhere in the region, the UK, France and the US raced to intervene when it seemed the revolt had spread to Libya. NATO was deployed, using the UN's new "responsibility to protect" doctrine authorising humanitarian intervention. Already NATO intervention has exceeded the UN mandate by bombing the Libyan capital and inflicting civilian casualties. Meanwhile, western governments openly pursue regime change in Libya while seeking to forestall it elsewhere. These essays chronicle the growing militarisation of US policy in North Africa and the Gulf and the historic confrontation between the Arab democratic revolution and the imperial backed satraps; between Libyans fighting for their independence and the Euro-American naval and air forces ravaging the country on behalf of their inept local clients.

How zionist power in the US promotes US wars in the Middle East -- War on Iran : the American military versus the Israel firsters -- Burying the national intelligence estimate -- Provocations as pretexts for imperial war : from Pearl Harbor to 9/11 -- The Palestinian sewage disaster : the political ecology of US/Israeli responsibility in microcosm -- General Petraeus : from surge to purge to dirge -- Military-driven over market-driven empire building : 1950-2008 -- US militarism and the expanding Israeli agenda -- American Jews on war and peace : what the polls do and don't tell us -- Why condemning Israel and the zionist lobby is so important