Against empire : [a brilliant exposé of the brutal realities of US global domination

Richly informed and written in an engaging style, Against Empire exposes the ruthless agenda and hidden costs of the U.S. empire today. Documenting the pretexts and lies used to justify violent intervention and maldevelopment abroad, Parenti shows how the conversion to a global economy is a victory of finance capital over democracy.As much of the world suffers unspeakable misery and the Third-Worldization of the United States accelerates, civil society is impoverished by policies that benefit rich and powerful transnational corporations and the national security state. Hard-won gains made by ordinary people are swept away.The history of imperialism is also, however, a history of resistance, struggle, and achievement; Against Empire offers compelling alternatives for progressive change.Michael Parenti is considered one of the nation's leading progressive thinkers. He received his Ph.D. in political science from Yale University in 1962, and has taught at a number of colleges and universities. His writings have been featured in scholarly journals, popular periodicals, and newspapers. Dr. Parenti lectures around the country on college campuses and before religious, labor, community, peace, and public interest groups.Praise for Michael Parenti's books:“A valuable rebuttal to the drumbeat...from the right.”—New York Times Book Review“Entertainingly written.”—Publishers Weekly“Parenti writes clear, smooth, often provocative prose, has a way of cutting to the heart of complex issues and knows how to tell a story."—Allan Johnson, Author of Human Arrangements Acknowledgements CHAPTER 1 – IMPERIALISM 101 Across the Entire Globe The Dynamic of Capital Expansion Not Necessary, Just Compelling Myths of Underdevelopment Artificially Converted to Poverty Development Theory Neoimperialism: Skimming the Cream CHAPTER 2 – IMPERIAL DOMINATION UPDATED Market Inequality Debt Domination Foreign Aid as a Weapon With Rational Violence Low Intensity Imperialism Globalization by GATT CHAPTER 3 – INTERVENTION: WHOSE GAIN? WHOSE PAIN? A Global Military Empire Why Intervention? Common Confusions Inventing Enemies Who Pays? Who Profits? The Myth of Popular Imperialism Cultural Imperialism CHAPTER 4 – STRONG EMPIRE, WEAK REPUBLIC Exporting Jobs Empire Against Environment American Casualties Impoverishing the Republic The Few Against the Many A Moral Self-Interest CHAPTER 5 – A DREADFUL SUCCESS Unexamined Assumptions Macho Posturing In the Name of Democracy The Hunt for Red Menace What Are ”Our Interests”? Consistent Inconsistencies Arms for Profit CHAPTER 6 – DRUGS, LIES, AND VIDEO WARS Driving Away Demons Looking Left for Terrorism Protecting Americans Abroad Reaching for Pretexts The Gulf War Lies Some Real Reasons The ”War On Drugs”: Cover Story Which Side Are You On, Boys? Drugs as a Weapon of Social Control CHAPTER 7 – WORTHY CAUSES Discouraging Arms Proliferation Chemical Warfare Hoax Humanitarian Pretense For Freedom, Mujahideen Style Famine Relief for Conoco Elections Yes! (Depending on Who Wins) Operation Facelift Coming Out of the Capitalist Closet CHAPTER 8 – DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE VS. THE STATE The State Against Democracy Conservative Consistencies An Executive State Exposé as CoverUp Keeping the Government in Line Constitutional Tyranny The State in Society Conspiracy Theory? CHAPTER 9 – VOODOO ECONOMICS: THE THIRD WORLDIZATION OF AMERICA Trickle Down to the Free Market Conservative Double Standards Welfare for the Rich The Tax Game A Military Feast A People's National Debt Toward 1893 Old Problems, No Solutions CHAPTER 10 – THE EMPIRE IN ACADEMIA A Temple of Knowledge A Matter of Some History The Open and Closed University Lefties Need Not Apply Elastic Criteria Presumptions of Objectivity Quarantine the Survivors The Myth of the Radical Campus CHAPTER 11 – REAL ALTERNATIVES ”Moderate Alternative” The National Security State Electoral Reform Tax Reform and Labor Law Agriculture and Ecology Health Care and Safety Fiscal Policy Social Justice and Jobs Class Warfare a Two-Way Street Richly informed and written in an engaging style, Against Empire exposes the ruthless agenda and hidden costs of the U.S. empire today. Documenting the pretexts and lies used to justify violent intervention and maldevelopment abroad, Parenti shows how the conversion to a global economy is a victory of finance capital over democracy. As much of the world suffers unspeakable misery and the Third-Worldization of the United States accelerates, civil society is impoverished by policies that benefit rich and powerful transnational corporations and the national security state. Hard-won gains made by ordinary people are swept away. “A valuable rebuttal to the drumbeat...from the right.” —New York Times Book Review “Entertainingly written.” —Publishers Weekly “Parenti writes clear, smooth, often provocative prose, has a way of cutting to the heart of complex issues and knows how to tell a story.'—Allan Johnson, Author of Human Arrangements Michael Parenti, PhD Yale, is an internationally known author and lecturer. He is one of the nation's leading progressive political analysts. He is the author of over 275 published articles and twenty books. His writings are published in popular periodicals, scholarly journals, and his op-ed pieces have been in leading newspapers such as the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. His informative and entertaining books and talks have reached a wide range of audiences in North America and abroad. Recommended by Jeff, City Lights Books Richly informed and written in an engaging style, Against Empire exposes the ruthless agenda and hidden costs of the U.S. empire today. Documenting the pretexts and lies used to justify violent intervention and maldevelopment abroad, Parenti shows how the conversion to a global economy is a victory of finance capital over democracy. As much of the world suffers unspeakable misery and the Third-Worldization of the United States accelerates, civil society is impoverished by policies that benefit rich and powerful transnational corporations and the national security state. Hard-won gains made by ordinary people are swept away.