Imperialism

[Victus Mortium]

So, I understand Lenin's theory of Imperialism in Capitalism, and I think I agree with it. I read a lot on these boards, though, and I see people talking about the oppressed 'third-world'. I understand that is part of Mao's theory of three worlds. My question is, do we actually have any evidence of modern superenterprises exploiting superprofits out of said countries. I hear a lot of talk, do we have the facts to back it up?

[BobKKKindle$]

I understand superprofits simply to mean the profits arising from superexploitation - exploitation of greater intensity (both in terms of absolute and relative surplus value) than that experiened in oppressor states. For evidence that these profits exist, note that many companies are now choosing to move their production to countries in which they can attain cheaper wages, and are not subject to regulations on the conditions of workers, and so are able to make their employees work for longer hours without bearing the cost of workplace safety. If they could not attain superprofits in these countries, companies would not outsource production, as maximising the accumulation of capital is the prime objective of any firm. I am sure you could also find statistics comparing the rate of profit on various countries.

[Victus Mortium]

I understand superprofits simply to mean the profits arising from superexploitation - exploitation of greater intensity (both in terms of absolute and relative surplus value) than that experiened in oppressor states. For evidence that these profits exist, note that many companies are not choosing to move their production to countries in which they can attain cheaper wages, and are not subject to regulations on the conditions of workers, and so are able to make their employees work for longer hours without bearing the cost of workplace safety. If they could not attain superprofits in these countries, companies would not outsource production, as maximising the accumulation of capital is the prime objective of any firm. I am sure you could also find statistics comparing the rate of profit on various countries.
But those are exactly what I am looking for. Do we have any statistical evidence to prove this? And usually, at least in America, the 'third world' is used in the sense of underdeveloped countries in Africa, not the productive countries of Asia...Is the standard use of that word incorrect in the Maoist sense, and do we have any facts?

[blabla]

So, I understand Lenin's theory of Imperialism in Capitalism, and I think I agree with it. I read a lot on these boards, though, and I see people talking about the oppressed 'third-world'. I understand that is part of Mao's theory of three worlds. My question is, do we actually have any evidence of modern superenterprises exploiting superprofits out of said countries. I hear a lot of talk, do we have the facts to back it up?


Check out the history of United Fruit Company, ITT and Anaconda Mining Co.

I can't provide any links now because I have less than 25 posts to my credit and hence the board administrators won't let me post links.

[Luís Henrique]

But those are exactly what I am looking for. Do we have any statistical evidence to prove this? And usually, at least in America, the 'third world' is used in the sense of underdeveloped countries in Africa, not the productive countries of Asia...Is the standard use of that word incorrect in the Maoist sense, and do we have any facts?

The use is incorrect. Third world countries are those that aren't part of the capitalist centre. Which is all countries except Western Europe, the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Of course we have facts. What do you believe companies like Fiat, Nestlé, Ishikawajima, Brown Boveri, British-American Tobacco, Exxon, Pfizer, Alcan, Rhône-Poulenc, etc, do when they establish affiliates in countries like Brazil, South Africa, Malaysia, or Iran?

Luís Henrique

[Joby]

Would you like a list of democratic govts overthrown by the US, a list of fascists propped up by the US, or just a bodycount?