For 80 years, the existing alliances and institutions of global politics have served U.S. imperial policy well. Now we are faced with what appears to be the unprecedented situation in which the “hegemonic power” has become the main “revisionist power,” in the world system…
Western imperialism believed that the process of capitalist restoration would gradually mold China into a liberal or neoliberal economic and political system and eventually turn it into a subordinate and compliant state. They had similar dreams about Russia at the time of the Soviet Union’s collapse. But, as we see, in both cases, these dreams have turned into nightmares for them.
The events of the past decade and a half, much like the two world wars, have once again demonstrated that even in the most advanced societies, the foundations of capitalist order and civilization are neither absolute nor permanent. In times of crisis, these societies can rapidly descend into fragmentation, chaos, and conflict. Meanwhile, the condition of underdeveloped or so-called developing societies, already plagued by poverty, backwardness, and instability, continues to deteriorate.
We are in uncharted waters where Trump is criminalizing free speech even as he has ended Israel’s genocidal war, for now.
“Make America Great Again” is a program to prepare the US to fight and win a war with China. It is not only that; there are plenty of right-wing causes to be pursued, such as hostility to vaccinations, that do not have a direct or necessary military connection, but the overall direction is clear.
It is of outmost importance that these social processes from below can generate politics. These social processes should engage people who seek for a political expression and revitalize the political scene by shifting it to a radical left direction. We have past experience of such a process in Greece.
Is there a method to Trump’s madness? There is a dizzying array of new policies, extraordinary pronouncements, and constant policy shifts. It’s meant to feel like an unstoppable and overwhelming tsunami. But there’s a reason for this course of action by Trump.
The major economies are exhibiting signs of stagflation. That means interest rates could stay high, while economic growth goes missing. That is a recipe for an eventual crash in financial markets.
The actions sponsored by the left wing of the Democratic Party and the NGOs have been lethargic and unfocused. We are going to have to look elsewhere for viable resistance.
Trump’s actions have been labeled a “coup” and a “constitutional crisis”. These descriptions are not conspiracy theories but attempts to understand events unfolding in real time. While it is unclear exactly how to label Trump’s actions, it is clear that the outcome depends on how far he is allowed to continue on this destructive path.
Actual American occupation of Gaza is extraordinarily unlikely. It would clearly demand serious deployment of US troops and would destabilize the entire world situation. The real purpose of the speech was something else. It was to show the world the absolute and complete support of the US administration for the Netanyahu government and whatever actions that government takes.
There are two conspicuous myths about the Gaza ceasefire that went into effect last Sunday: that it was due to Trump’s pressure on Netanyahu, and that it was a victory achieved by Hamas.
Trump is a great fan of the presidential “executive order,” which he believes gives him unlimited power to shape U.S. society by issuing a flood of personal edicts, rather than face even a hint of congressional scrutiny. But with both the House and the Senate dominated by a slim margin of Trump’s minions, not much scrutiny is emanating from Congress.
The order’s language is in line with the Republican Party’s 2024 platform, which did not call for a nationwide abortion ban but expressed support for states that would establish fetal personhood by extending the protections of the 14th Amendment, which guarantees that “no person can be denied life or liberty without due process,” to fetuses.
It’s easy to see why this agreement has been greeted with a very cautious optimism by the Palestinians. Any respite from the horrors of the past year is welcome. It’s an extraordinary tribute to the legendary resilience of the Palestinian people that they have survived this holocaust at all.
