A Guide to Understanding the US-Ruled World System

Rulers and Ruled in the US Empire: Bankers, Zionists, Militants by James Petras

Rulers and Ruled in the US Empire:
Bankers, Zionists, Militants
by James Petras

Price: 16.95
ISBN: 0-932863-54-X
* 264 pp * 2007

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SUMMARY  AUTHOR  CONTENTS  ORDER  REVIEWS

SYNOPSIS

This book provides a comprehensive guide to the systemic dimensions of the US empire. Petras elaborates the changes within the US ruling class, as its manufacturing sector declines and gives way to the ascendancy of finance capital, illustrated by its dominance of both the US economy, and the parameters for political debate on the US role in the world economy (globalization, trade liberalization). Petras addresses the fallacy of discussions on the imminent collapse of capitalism when what is occurring in reality is the collapse of workers’ rights. He elaborates the contradictions in current immigration/trade liberalization policies, and how these work toward forcing the displacement of peoples, and furthering the underdevelopment of third world countries. He reveals the dark heart of modern empire, in the emergence and proliferation of holocaust-scale carnage.and further outlines how the world capitalist system is laced together in an intricate hierarchy where the US pulls most of the strings, even outside its ostensible area of dominance.  The role of corruption in securing world markets is addressed, as are the reasons for the spectacular global growth in new billionaires.

The role of the Zionist Lobby in America is examined as it relates to the catastrophic wars in Iraq and Lebanon, and the threat of a further attack on Iran. A mounting schism within the US ruling elite between its pro-Zionist sector concerned with advancing the interests of Israel, and the traditional ruling elite concerned with protecting US imperial interests worldwide is addressed in relation to the Iraq Study Group’s failed effort to introduce changes in current US Middle East policy.

Finance capital and its political representatives in the US government depend on the support of client regimes in other countries, which include those considered relatively ‘center left’, to sustain the US empire. However, in pursuit of freedom, justice, national independence and peace, powerful social movements and in some circumstances armed national resistance forces have emerged to challenge American dominance.

Petras sheds light on the actual status of contemporary resistance to US hegemony within China, Latin America, and the Middle East.

ISBN: 0-932863-54-X     $16.95     2007

REVIEWS

“This is another must-read book by a distinguished intellect and major figure on the left”

— Stephen Lendman
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=14014

"Sociology professor emeritus James Petras surely ranks as one of the most astute scholars and chroniclers of capitalism and imperialism, as well as being a realistic appraiser of progressivist movements in the world. His latest book Rulers and Ruled in the US Empire is a valuable compendium of how power is distributed and wielded in society and among states."

Kim Petersen, Dissident Voice
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/empire-and-imperialism/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

James Petras is a Bartle Professor (Emeritus) of Sociology at Binghamton University, New York. He is the author of 62 books published in 29 languages, and over 560 articles in professional journals, including the American Sociological Review, British Journal of Sociology, Social Research, Journal of Contemporary Asia, and Journal of Peasant Studies.  He has published over 2000 articles in nonprofessional journals such as the New York Times, the Guardian, the Nation, Christian Science Monitor, Foreign Policy, New Left Review, Partisan Review, TempsModerne, Le Monde Diplomatique, and his commentary is widely carried on the internet.   His publishers have included Random House, John Wiley, Westview, Routledge, Macmillan, Verso, Zed Books and Pluto Books. He is winner of the Career of Distinguished Service Award from the American Sociological Association's Marxist Sociology Section, the Robert Kenny Award for Best Book, 2002, and the Best Dissertation, Western Political Science Association in 1968. His most recent titles include  Unmasking Globalization: Imperialism of the Twenty-First Century (2001); co-author The Dynamics of Social Change in Latin America (2000), System in Crisis (2003), co-author Social Movements and State Power (2003), co-author Empire With Imperialism (2005), co-author)Multinationals on Trial (2006), and The Power of Israel in the United States (2006)

The UK Daily Telegraph listed James Petras as #59 in its list of America's 100 most influential liberals

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I:  THE US EMPIRE AS A SYSTEM / 13

Chapter 1
WHO RULES AMERICA?/ 15
Introduction / 15       
The Ascendancy of Financial Capital / 18
The Dance of the Billions: Finance Capital Reaps the Profits
        from Their Power / 20   
Crisis of the Working and Middle Class (Inequalities Begin to Worry
        the Ruling Class) / 23           
Now the Financial Ruling Class Also Governs / 25        
Ruling Class Political Power: Paulson Takes Over Treasury / 25  
The Future of the Financial Ruling Class / 27

Chapter 2
CRISIS OF US CAPITALISM OR CRISES OF US WORKERS? / 29
Introduction / 29
Myths about the ‘End of US Capitalism’ /        30
        
The Budget Deficit / 30
        The Balance of Trade Deficit / 32       
        A Speculative Economy / 33
        The Weakness of the Dollar / 33
        The Energy Crisis / 34
The ‘Unsustainability’ of US Capitalism / 35
Is US Capitalism in Crisis? / 35
The Facts Against the Collapse of Capitalism Theory / 36
Conclusion / 38

Chapter 3
MARKET LIBERALIZATION AND FORCED EMIGRATION / 39
Introduction: Micro-Analysis / 39
A Marxist Critique and Alternative Approach / 39
The Imperialist-Centered Model of Capitalist Accumulation / 40
Imperialism and the Regulation of Immigration / 42
US Imperial Practice and Mexican  / Central American Immigration / 44
Imperial Militarism and Immigration As Refugee Flight / 45      
Who Supports and Who Opposes International Immigration / 47
Costs and Benefits of Second-Wave Immigration  / 49
        The Costs of Out-Migration / 49
         Remittances and Development / 51        
Conclusion / 51

Chapter 4
ECONOMIC EMPIRE-BUILDING AND
THE CENTRALITY OF CORRUPTION / 53
The Imperial Necessity / 53
Corruption as the Key to Success / 55
Conclusion / 57

Chapter 5
THE SYSTEMIC APPLICATION OF FORCE:
HIERARCHY, NETWORKS AND CLIENTS / 59
Introduction / 59       
Hierarchy of Empire / 59
Independent States and Movements / 63
Contested Terrain / 63  
The Anomaly:  Israel in the Imperial System / 63        
Regimes in Transition / 64      
The Case of Somalia: Black Masks/White Faces / 65       
US Intervention:  The United Nations, Military Occupation,
        Warlords and Proxies / 66       
Invading Somalia:  the Empire and its Networks / 69
        
Chapter 6
IMPERIALISM:  THE DRIVING FORCE OF GENOCIDE /
72
Defining Genocides / 72
Components of Modern Genocides—or Not? / 73
Critique of Psycho-Cultural Explanations / 75    
The Deployment of Collaborators / 76  
Genocides, Cohesion and Imperialism / 77
Genocides as Repression of Revolutionary Challenges / 77
Why Imperialism Leads to Genocides / 79
Genocides as Case Studies in Modernization and Empire-Building / 80
Genocides:  Their Aftermaths and Dubious Legacies / 83 
Conclusion / 85

Chapter 7
THE GLOBAL RULING CLASS: 
BILLIONAIRES AND HOW THEY “MADE IT” /
88
Latin America / 91
How to Become a Billionaire / 92
Conclusion / 94

PART II: ZIONIST POWER IN THE UNITED STATES / 97

Chapter 8
NO EXIT:  THE JEWISH LOBBY SINKS THE IRAQ STUDY GROUP / 99
Introduction / 99
The Baker Camp / 99
The Jewish Lobby Rolls Back the Baker Initiative / 103.
Olmert Swoops In / 105
The Defeat of Peace Initiatives from Syria / 110        
Fending Off the Iranian Peace Overtures / 113   
Shooting Down Palestinian Peaceful Overtures / 114
Conclusion / 116

Chapter 9
FACING DOWN THE FACTS: THE LOBBY AND
THE MEDIA ON LEBANON / 121
Introduction / 121      
The Jewish Lobby Rallies to the Destruction of Lebanon / 122
Lobby and Media Re-interpret Lebanon for the Credulous / 124
Consequences of the Israeli War of Aggression / 126

Chapter 10
US EMPIRE AND THE MIDDLE EAST:
ZIONISM, PUPPET REGIMES AND POLITICAL ALLIES / 130
The Vectors of US-Middle East Power / 131
        The Israel-Zionist Power Configuration / 131
         Instrumental Clients / 134
Regional Alliances: Middle East Power Sharing? / 137
The 21st Century Experience of US Empire-Building
        in the Middle East / 138

PART III:  THE POSSIBILITY OF RESISTANCE / 141

Chapter 11
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF CHINA:
FROM SEMI-COLONY TO WORLD POWER? / 143
Introduction / 143      
Methodological and Conceptual Clarification / 144
Stages of Chinese Development: From Semi-Colony to Revolution / 150
        Stage I: From Colony and Neo-Colony
                 to a Revolutionary Socialist Regime / 150
        Stage II:  From Communism to State Capitalism 1970-1989 / 153
Transition from State Capitalism to Liberal Capitalism / 156
Foreign Capital: The First Beachheads / 158
The Future:  Will the Transition from Liberalism to Neo-Liberalism
        Lead to the Eclipse of the National Bourgeoisie? / 160
The Deepening Social Crisis: The Return of Class Struggle / 164                  

Chapter 12
US-LATIN AMERICAN RELATIONS:
RUPTURES, REACTION AND THE ILLUSIONS OF TIMES PAST / 167
Introduction / 167      
Continuities and Expansion of US Influence / 168
        Bilateral Free Trade Agreements / 168
        Military Bases and Training Programs / 168
        Economic Presence / 168
         Ideological Conformity:  The Neo-liberal Ascendancy / 169       New Realities:  Relative Changes / 169
        Coup and Reversals: The Resurgence of US
                 Power—1976-1980s / 171
        The Golden Age of US Dominance: 1990-2001 / 172
Crisis and Collapse of US-Backed Clients:  The End of the
        Golden Era / 173:                
The New Realities of the 21st Century / 176
Fluidity of Hegemony: Relative Losses, Relative Gains: (2003-2007) / 179
Empire-building in a Time of New Political and Economic Realities / 181
The Shortsightedness of Historical Projections / 181    
Four Competing Blocs of Power / 183     
Conclusion / 188

Chapter 13
NEW WINDS FROM THE LEFT OR HOT AIR FROM A NEW RIGHT / 191
Introduction / 191
What is “Left”: Method / 191    
What is Left: Criteria / 192
Brazil: President Lula to 2007 / 193
Argentina:  President Kirchner, 2003-2007 / 194
Uruguay: President Tabare Vazquez / 196
Bolivia:  Evo Morales / 197
A Note on Peru and Ecuador / 200
The Misleading Acclaim of Left Intellectuals / 200
Conclusion / 202                 

Chapter 14
FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN LATIN AMERICA:
SOCIAL COSTS AND POLITICAL RISKS / 204
Introduction / 204      
Part I: Six Myths about the Benefits of Foreign Investment
Conclusion / 209
Part II:  Foreign Investment’s Prejudicial Incentives / 210
Privatized Lucrative Public Enterprises / 210
De-Nationalization of Natural Monopolies         / 211
Subsidies / 213
Export Processing Zones / 213
Tax Privileges / 214
Market Liberalization / 214     
Cheap Labor: Unskilled, Skilled and Professional / 215

PART IV: AN AGENDA FOR MILITANTS / 219

Chapter 15
ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVES / 221
Countering FI Strategies to Counter Social Reform / 221
Countering the Threat of Disinvestment / 221    
Preventing Capital Flight / 222
Countering Systemic Pressure / 222      
Promoting and Implementing a New Developmental Model / 222
Engaging in the Battle of Ideas / 223
Countering Corruption / 223
Addressing Labor Legislation and Price Constraints / 224
Is Anti-Imperialism Compatible with Foreign Investment? / 224
Arguments for Foreign Investment / 226
A Regulated FI / 227
Arguments Against Foreign Investment / 228
Alternatives to Foreign Investment / 231
Alternative FI Management Strategies Where FI is        Unavoidable / 233
Advantages of Worker-Engineer Public Control (WEPC) / 234
Tax Evasions and Tax Revenues / 234
Capital Flight versus High Reinvestment Ratios / 234
Speculative Investment versus Long-Term Investment in
         Research and Development / 234
Social Investment versus Profit Remittances and Privileged
         Salaries / 234
Capitalist Privileges versus Social Welfare / 235
Mobile Capital/Fixed Labor versus Fixed Capital/Mobile Labor / 235
Potential Problems in the WEPC/ 235    
Conclusion / 237

Chapter 16
LATIN AMERICA:  THE MIDDLE CLASS, SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND THE LEFT / 239
Towards an Alternative Orientation / 242

Chapter 17
THE CENTRALITY OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN IN DEFEATING THE EMPIRE / 243

ENDNOTES / 245

INDEX / 255

 

 

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