American Imperialism?

[Comrade Anarchist]

when chavez and others across the world say that american imperialism is the worst danger to this world i get confused. Now i know america has true imperialistic motives but is the greater danger of american imperialism in fact not the american military and govn't but instead the imperialism of american capitalism. In poorer countries where the U.s. doesnt have troops or bases you see a lot of american companies profiting off the poor. Im pretty sure that american companies have a larger foothold on the world then the U.S. government. So is it the U.S. govn't imperialism or is it American Capitalist imperialism or is it the the government pushing the capitalists that poses the largest danger.

[Kassad]

In all honesty, you slightly misunderstand what imperialism is. The military is a means of imperialism, but militarism is not imperialism. Imperialism doesn't necessarily mean that Nation A sent troops over the border into Nation B and now they are occupying Nation B's capital. Imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism, in which the bourgeoisie and the monetary elite use political, military, social and economic influence to manipulate the economy and resources of another nation. Imperialism is nothing short of advocated by advocates of laissez-faire capitalism and free trade, as the destruction of trade barriers and regulations make it easy for the corporate hegemony to take control of underprivileged nations.

Imperialism can, as commonly seen, take the form of military occupation. The United States' occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan are very good examples of the military's role in promoting corporate interests, but it is not always so blunt. The bourgeoisie manipulate resources and have been doing this for decades. Through economic manipulation, they take control of a nation's economy, much like they did in Panama and Guatemala. In all honesty, military intervention is the last line of defense. I see it like this:

1) Economic manipulation takes effect as the corporate elite use their influence to gain control of a nation's government. They can use a massive array of tools, such as huge loans and different infrasturcture and environmental programs. In the end, these impoverished countries can never repay their debt, so we go back to them and use our financial clout to force them into succumbing to our will. This can take the form of a United Nations vote or access to some resource in the nation, like oil.

2) If the economic manipulation fails, the next line of defense is some sort of private agency in the hands of the elite, such as the Central Intelligence Agency or the National Security Agency. Basically, it is up to these groups to either overthrow the governments that refuse our economic manipulation or to directly assassinate them. Once this regime change occurs, we place one of our puppets in power. These puppets wind up bending to our will for two reasons. First, we put them in power and they likely agree with us, but most importantly, they know what happens if they disobey.

3) On those rare times when the first two attempts fail, we send in the military. When we failed to manipulate Saddam Hussein and failed to overthrow him, we had no other choice but to send in the military. These classic examples of international tyranny have been exercised everywhere and eventually end in the destruction of the regime, such as with Saddam Hussein, or the assassination of the ruler, such as Jaime Roldos or Omar Torrijos.

This is how the imperialism system works. Don't think this is the only way, though, as there are many covert programs that we will likely never comprehend in the hands of the capitalist elite. Regardless, it is obvious that capitalism is the common denominator and this exploitation will continue until this manipulative and oppressive system is destroyed.

[BlackCapital]

Kassad nailed it as far as I'm concerned; each of the instances of imperialism you list are not different "types", but different means to achieving the same goal. That being the case there isn't one I would really classify as worse, although military conquest and occupation I think is the most blatant and epitomizes imperialism. The U.S. government is obviously more then complicit with capitalist interests, and will use all its resources from sanctions to military action to advance them.


Don't think this is the only way, though, as there are many covert programs that we will likely never comprehend in the hands of the capitalist elite.

Glad you mentioned this, wanted to share this article with you guys. https://secure.wikileaks.org/wiki/Unconventional_Warfare_in_the_21st_century_:_US_su rrogates%2C_terrorists_and_narcotrafficers

Very interesting stuff, definetely worth a read if you've got a moment.

[Rebel_Serigan]

Oh yeah it is all so true. Imperialism is a task that many people think of as difficult but it is actualy rather easy. You see you don't have to overtake a country officially, I mean a great example of this is McDonald's. Micky-D's is a multi-national corperation that promotes american ideals and thoughtforms (grease, eat what you want, "would you like fries with that?", see what these guys did, now you copy them) you can take over a country's culture first then it becaomes easy to take over fully. If you look at Canada. They have so much American influence that the only real differences are that the people there are slightly more leftist and the weather is colder (and they kick ass at hocky but that isn't a social difference) America might as well be Canada and vice versa. America owns more than just the fifty states they claim. The American Empire streaches from the oil fields guarded by soldier to the parking lot outside the Burger King in the Forbidon City. Corperations are agents of social control just as much as any police officer.

[AvanteRedGarde]

The state cannot be looked at outside of the context of class struggle. The state is a tool of primarily one class.

[John Lenin]

"We must bear in mind that imperialism is a world system, the last stage of capitalism — and it must be defeated in a world confrontation. The strategic end of this struggle should be the destruction of imperialism. Our share, the responsibility of the exploited and underdeveloped of the world is to eliminate the foundations of imperialism: our oppressed nations, from where they extract capitals, raw materials, technicians and cheap labor, and to which they export new capitals — instruments of domination — arms and all kinds of articles; thus submerging us in an absolute dependance."


— Che Guevara, Message to the Tricontinental, 1967

[Rangi]

I think cultural imperialism is the most detestable. I can see the world turning into one big shopping mall. The popular music that comes out of the USA such as the Top 40 Hits is morally and socially bankrupt and devoid of any artistic merit.

Of course America does create wonderful and beautiful art but it's only the dross that gets the limelight.

[AvanteRedGarde]

So you don't have a problem with people making a few dollars a day in sweatshops, but the idea of Amerikan cultural imperialism seems detestable??

[x359594]

I think cultural imperialism is the most detestable. I can see the world turning into one big shopping mall....

I sympathize Rangi, but I think it's all of a piece.Cultural imperialism comes with economic imperialism, and as Comrade Kassad has so cogently shown, the military is the back-up resort to keep markets open and US-friendly ruling elites in power.