Forwarded from Anthony (Harvard professor)

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks to Chris Brady for posting the Harvard Profesor's honest
cheerleading for empire (To: marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx     Subject:
Harvard Prof Calls on US to Plan All-Out "Imperial Wars"      From:
Chris Brady <cdbrady@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>    Date: Thu, 02 May 2002
00:50:19 -0700)       .. The prof's analysis is flawed, however
honest he is. Immediately after writing these words,

"We use our military dominance to intervene in the internal affairs
of other countries....

He goes on to state,

" A political unit that has overwhelming superiority in military
power, and uses that power to influence the internal behavior of
other states is called an empire. Because the United States does not
seek to control territory or govern the overseas citizens of the
empire, we are an indirect empire, to be sure, but an empire
nonetheless. If this is correct, our goal is not combatting a rival,
but maintaining our imperial position, and maintaining imperial
order."

What is now changing is the degree of intervention in the internal
affairs of other countries. 'Maintaining imperial order' increasingly
means "seeking to control terrriotry and govern overseas citizens."
This is why the USA is seeking to extend the jurisdiction of its
criminal and civil law and courts into the internal political,
economic,  and social lives of other countries. The recent
extradition order for six leaders of the FARC is an example. The
military interventions into the internal affairs of Pakisatan and the
Phillipines are others.

Civil law is routinely being used to the same ends. corporations from
Microsoft to Proctor and Gamble expect 'third world'  governments,
businesses and individuals  to sign contracts abrogating the laws of
their own countries and stipulating that all contract disputes will
be settled by arbitration inthe USA (usually in Delaware. )

Anyway, the Harvard prof's views are an interesting indication of how
far a section of the intelligentisia of the USA has moved into the
camp of imperialism.

All the best, Anthony

--
Louis Proyect, lnp3@xxxxxxxxx on 05/02/2002

Marxism list: http://www.marxmail.org



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