Against empire by Michael Parenti

Against empire by Michael Parenti

Thesis

The article Against Empire by Michel Parenti is based on the definition of imperialism in contrast with capitalism.  He shows that the expansion to global economy is the championship in finance capital more than democracy. The empire, which is the United States, escalates while the civil society is undermined by policies which only benefit the powerful and the rich the nation security state and transitional corporations.  This is what capitalism is all about; where what are swept away is the hard earned gains of the ordinary citizens. This concept is contrasted with imperialism.  Imperialism is a history of struggle, resistance and achievement. The author’s thesis is Imperialism is older than capitalism.

Evidence

Conquerors existed in the old ages like the Persian, the Roman, the Mongol, and the Macedonians.  They were more interested in tribute, glory and gold.  This is compared to the term Capitalist Imperialism which differs from the old age conquerors by the way in which capital is accumulate systemically and organized to exploit labor and expand to markets in the overseas.  The aim of capitalist imperialism to invest in overseas countries, dominate and transform their economies, political and cultural life as well as to integrate productive structures and financial structures to fit into a system that is capitalist and international.

Expansion is the main aim of capitalism. Investors will put up a business venture that will give them profit in return. To gain more money, the investors have to ensure their enterprises have grown.  This expansion, according to Engel and Karl Marx results into destruction of the society. This is because people who are “self sufficient are transformed to disfranchised wage workers”.  “Folk cultures and indigenous communities are replaced by the effects of mass media, consumer societies and mass market”.

Another aspect that the author tackles is whether or not capitalism is conditioned by imperialism.  Parenti puts out that the western capitalism can survive if they do not invested in Third World countries but in western nations. This is because corporations could still survive if they go at a loose in developing countries. This is what makes capitalism to exist on its own even without imperialism. All the same, the author argues that most corporations are not ready to only invest in North America and European markets alone. This is, “they show no any sign of desire” to do away with the enormous profits gained from the Third world. This means that imperialism has acted as an “inherent tendency for the survival of investors” yet it is not a necessary condition for an enterprise survival.

Overseas investors consider imperialism as a vital condition to their added profit because of the cheap labor and important resources in the Third World; which are the vital conditions necessary for profit making and competitive advantage. Imperialism is therefore, a process that still continues to modern day.

Conclusion

Against Empire is an article that expounds on the link between capitalism and imperialism.  Though the subject of imperialism has long been forgotten and placed in the archives yet, it still exists to the present day.  The aim of capitalism is to expand to foreign market. Investors of large enterprises argue that they can survive if they only invest in developed countries but, the reality is that the Third World countries offer opportunities for vital resources, cheap, labor and damp markets.  These are conditions necessary for profit making and growth.  Therefore, is not right to say that imperialism is a long forgotten activity of those in power yet it is evident in today’s capitalism.

Reference

Against empire by Michael Parenti

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