Imperialism

How globalised super-exploitation makes modern capitalism tick

Imperialism in the Twenty-First Century: Globalization, Super-Exploitation, and Capitalism鈥檚 Final Crisis
By John Smith
Monthly Review Press, 2016

On April 24, 2013 a clothing factory in Rana Plaza, Dhaka, Bangladesh collapsed, killing 1133 workers and injuring 2500 others.

This image of super-exploited, fatally-trapped workers, hemmed in by national borders and racist migration policies preventing them from moving to safer, better-paid work opens John Smith鈥檚 book 鈥 and illustrates his outrage.

Philippines: Economic anti-imperialism is needed too

Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 statement declaring his intentions to 鈥渟eparate鈥 from the United States in both military and economic relations should be welcomed, but it鈥檚 easier said than done. Hence the president鈥檚 constant 鈥渂acktracking鈥 on his statements.

Given the president鈥檚 inconsistency, the question is posed: What does it mean to be an anti-imperialist government today? And is lining up with China (and to a lesser-extent Russia) an anti-imperialist positioning?

The empathy inequality: Pray for the rich and forget Haiti

There is a very sinister, hellish thing behind the tepid concern that rears its head when a country like Haiti suffers a tragedy.

As 800 people died and 90% of parts of southern Haiti were destroyed by Hurricane Matthew earlier this month, leaving whole towns flattened, and people homeless and without basic infrastructure, the trending hashtag was #PrayForFlorida.

How to get active this week

Brisbane See a film at Red Cinema: Disruption. This film looks at the 2014 People鈥檚 Climate March in New York. Entry $15/$10 conc. Meal and drinks available. Friday November 6 at 6pm. Brisbane Activist Centre, 74B Wickham St, Fortitude Valley. Phone Angus 0431 935 576. Melbourne

Letter from the US: Opposition to Israeli policies growing among Jewish Americans

Photo: Jewish Voice for Peace Albuquerque Chapter. For most of its existence since 1948, Israel has had the support of most Jews in the US. There have always, however, been some dissident voices, especially among Jewish members of socialist and communist groups.

Refugee crisis: those most responsible are the least affected

Zaatari refugee camp, Jordan. There are an estimated 1,400,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan. Tragic photos and videos of masses of asylum seekers and immigrants from the Middle East and Africa have recently shocked the world. But these ordeals have been going on for a long time.

Venezuela says international media 'distorting reality'

Venezuelan foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez. Caracas, September 17. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said on September 17 that international media were looking to 鈥渟cam鈥 the world over what is happening on the border between Venezuela and Colombia.

NGOs in Bolivia: Is Evo Morales cracking down on dissent?

Recent statements by Bolivian Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera regarding non-government organisations (NGOs) in Bolivia have triggered a heated debate on the left. On August 11, Garcia Linera accused NGOs of acting like political parties seeking to interfere in Bolivia鈥檚 domestic affairs. While respecting their right to criticise government policies, Garcia Linera said foreign-funded NGOs need to understand their place within Bolivian society.

Puerto Rico: Billionaire hedge fund managers demand schools close to pay debt

鈥淏illionaire hedge fund managers have called on Puerto Rico to lay off teachers and close schools so that the island can pay them back the billions it owes,鈥 on the debt crisis facing the United States' Caribbean colony.

Britain: New push to bomb Syria

Photo: Stopwar.org.uk. Anti-war campaigners challenged British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon on July 2 after his call for more air strikes in Syria, warning that the action could fuel Islamic State recruitment. When the PM obtained Commons approval for the bombing of militant positions last year, he made it clear that this was limited to Iraq.

FIFA scandal fuelled by corporate riches, political manoeuvres

The corruption scandal that has hit FIFA, culminating in the recent arrest of seven FIFA officials in Switzerland and the resignation of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, has focused attention on the world鈥檚 most powerful football (soccer) body. You have to go back to FIFA's founding to understand the factors that have led to these events. It was formed in 1904 to oversee international competition among various European football associations.

US backs Saudi crimes, at home and abroad

Washington DC was the converging point for some of the world鈥檚 most oppressive regimes on May 13 and 14, when President Barack Obama hosted a billionaire conglomerate known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The group consists of the Middle Eastern countries of Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Oman. The cosy US-GCC relationship exemplifies the twisted nature of US foreign policy, especially in regards to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has been accused of human rights violations against its own citizens, including political activists, journalists, and women.