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Group Discussion: Globalization & Conspiracy Theories

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Group Discussion: Globalization & Conspiracy Theories

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GLOBALIZATION & CONSPIRACY THEORIES

INTRODUCTION:

This meetup will address the topic of globalization as well as some of the anti-globalization movement's arguments about the harms caused by exploitative trade deals & predatory foreign investment. We'll try to sort out the rational critiques of "neoliberal" (i.e. free market) policies from the irrational conspiracy theories.

We'll start by addressing the debates about the effects of "globalization", i.e. the process of industrialization of states in the "developing world" through foreign investment (often directed by the World Bank & IMF) and their integration into the world market. We'll look at whether or not globalization helped lift billions of people out of extreme poverty over the last 30 years as its advocates claim. We'll also look at the debate over whether or not "sweatshops" (low-wage manufacturing with lax safety regs) are a necessary step in the process of industrialization. We'll also briefly consider if free trade or protectionism works better.

In the second section, we'll look at Naomi Klein's book "Shock Doctrine: Rise of Disaster Capitalism", particularly her claims that Milton Friedman collaborated with Pinochet's brutal regime in Chile, that Margaret Thatcher used the Falkland Islands War to distract the British public so she could institute "neoliberal" economic policies, that the Tiananmen Square protests in China were motivated not by a desire for democracy but by opposition to "neoliberal" reforms, and that the 2003 Iraq invasion was motivated by the neocons' desire to create a "neoliberal utopia" in the Middle East. Note: For a chapter summary & list of resources for Klein's book, go here: http://www.naomiklein.org/shock-doctrine/resources/chapter-resources

In the third section, we'll address some suspicious claims from John Perkins' book "Confessions of an Economic Hitman", such as the claim that his position of Chief Economist at the engineering firm Chas T. Main in the 1970s was a cover provided by the NSA, that the NSA & CIA intentionally used "economic hitmen" to convince the IMF & World Bank to exploit developing countries through "debt trap diplomacy", and that the CIA's "jackals" assassinated leaders like Ecuador's Jaime Roldós Aguilera & Panama's Omar Torrijos who got in their way. Note: For a brief summary of Perkins' book, go here:
https://www.wanttoknow.info/johnperkinseconomichitman

In the final section, we'll take a look at the idea of a "North American Union" and some related rumors (e.g. Amero currency, NAFTA Superhighway) which are perennial concerns among some right-wing conspiracy theorists. We'll try to distinguish the wilder rumors from the grains of truth represented by real projects like the Trans-Texas Corridor and the Security & Prosperity Partnership (SPP). Wikipedia provides a useful overview: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Union

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DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR OUR DISCUSSION:

The videos & articles you see linked below are intended to give you a basic overview of some of the major debates over globalization, international trade, foreign investment & regional integration. As usual, I certainly don't expect you to read all the articles & watch all the videos prior to attending our discussion. To prepare for our discussion, just watch the numbered videos linked under each section - the videos come to about 58 minutes total. The articles marked with asterisks are just there to supply additional details. You can browse and look at whichever ones you want, but don't worry - we'll cover the stuff you missed in our discussion.

In terms of the discussion format, my general idea is that we'll address the topics in the order presented here. I figure we'll spend about 30 minutes on each section.

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I. HAS "GLOBALIZATION" MOSTLY HELPED OR HURT PEOPLE IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD? ARE "SWEATSHOPS" A NECESSARY STEP IN THIS PROCESS OR A DEAD-END FORM OF WAGE SLAVERY? DO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES NEED PROTECTIONISM INSTEAD OF FREE TRADE?

1a) Adriene Hill & Jacob Clifford, "Globalization and Trade and Poverty" (video - 9:01 min.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MpVjxxpExM

1b) Ha Joon Chang, "Free Trade Does Not Make Countries Richer" (video - 3:28 min.)
https://youtu.be/BPtm1KUu2Yk

II. NAOMI KLEIN'S "SHOCK DOCTRINE" - DO GOV'TS USE DIVERSIONARY WARS & TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CRISES TO BLINDSIDE THEIR CITIZENS WITH "NEOLIBERAL" ECONOMIC POLICIES?

2a) Naomi Klein, "The Shock Doctrine" (video - 6:47 min.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuyRdJupbvU

2b) ReasonTV w/ Johan Norberg, "Naomi Klein and The Shock Doctrine" (video - 8:51 min.)
https://youtu.be/tqLAYg6pDGg?t=25

III. JOHN PERKINS' "CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HITMAN" - ARE THE WORLD BANK & IMF LOAN SHARKS BACKED BY CIA ASSASSINS?

3a) David Pakman w/ John Perkins, "Confession of an Economic Hitman" (video - 11:00 min.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LXnhxQc-ro

3b) Stuff They Don't Want You To Know, "Planes and Politics" (video - 5:26 min, stop at 4:00)
https://youtu.be/PCzf0x6snoM

IV. ARE THE "NORTH AMERICAN UNION" & "AMERO" CURRENCY JUST PIPE DREAMS OR ACTUALLY BEING PLANNED FOR COVERT IMPLEMENTATION? IS THE TRANS-TEXAS CORRIDOR REAL, AND IF SO, WHAT ABOUT THE "NAFTA SUPERHIGHWAY"? WHAT IS THE "SPP"?

4a) Brian Dunning, "The North American Union" (video - 12:52 min.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVDrjS6GcE0

4b) Christopher Hayes "The Trans Texas Corridor and NAFTA Superhighway Myth" (video - 2:12 min.)
https://youtu.be/L0ffhswAHpk

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