Customer Reviews

Against Empire

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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Parenti's "Against Empire" packs a lot of clout in a small space. The book serves as a devastating critique of our foreign policy illusions. Simply put: The image is democracy; The reality is imperialism. Parenti is probably the most consistent high-profile academic courageous enough to trace public policy to class interest. Noam Chomsky is also a high-profile and consistent critic of American imperialism, but he refrains from either using the word or from offering a class analysis. Parenti takes the analysis one step further. One might fault this book for being short on documentation, but those familiar with Parenti's works understand the documentation is present in his other, more narrowly-focused books. Thus, "Against Empire" serves as something of an introduction to the author's invaluable other works.

One of the book's more personal chapters concerns empire in academia with which professor Parenti has first-hand experience. His discussion of quiet and sometimes noisy faculty purges gives the lie to illusions of free speech in academe. He makes clear that if department heads won't oust politically troublesome faculty, then trustees - usually made up of business elites and political appointees - will do the dirty work. One way or the other, empire requires that class conscious teachers must be kept from talking to students about the systematic effects of wealth and imperialism on their lives.

Parenti's exposure of capitalism-disguised-as-democracy is refreshing. Because of capital's tainted and bloody history, empire's propagandists couch their defenses in terms of democratic ideals rather than the more truthful money-grubbing imperatives of actual policy making. Fed a steady dose of this doubletalk, an uncritical public either repeats the idealizing refrain, or, if more critical, becomes cynical about politics in general. Either way, a potentially restive voting public is effectively neutralized. Far from expressing anything like a popular will, capitalist-style democracy subverts this will into a management technique of directing and controlling popular dissent. When anything like popular will challenges empire's basic institutions (as in the case of Vietnam), force can and will be used against it. In practice, American capital prefers the control mechanism of cosmetic democracy to direct authoritarian rule. But it will never sacrifice its narrow class interests to a reality of popular sovereignty. Agree or disagree, this is a work to ponder.

I've been reading Parenti's books for a couple of years, and seeking out his articles and lectures. Reading Against Empire was my first exposure to the man. He characterizes the United States as an Empire, in the classic sense, demolishes your ability to look at your country in any other way, and then goes on to discuss practically every aspect of US foreign and domestic policy in terms of how it serves an active and malignant Empire. His class anaylsis makes itr impossible to ever again percieve U.S. roles in world finance, war, humanitarian missions, etc the same way again. Before, I wondered why we might intervene here but not there, why a war at this time and not another, etc. Parenti cuts through the mystery and exposes again and again the class interests that drive our policy. And he does so in blunt, sometimes deadpan humor and with a remarkably clear vision. Also read his new book, Blackshirts and Reds, about fascism. And if you get a chance, order tapes of his lectures

The writer from Houston (TX) says this book is an intellectual fraud. He says so analysing one chapter in particular, or one criticism exposed in the book. Another reader from Wichita (KS) centers his criticism over the recurring distinction between communists and/or nazis. They both narrow they disliking for the book around only two of the many issues faced by Parenti's analysis. To them I ask this question: do you still deny everything else exposed in the book? I'm not suggesting to "drink" everything Parenti says as being true, but the main issue that lies at the very heart of his book is the subtle ways trhough which America tries to rule the world. Interfering in other countries political affairs, and then showing itself as being the savior of the oppressed is very disgusting, but hard to face for many Americans. Indeed very easy for those who see things from the outside because they are foreigners. The book is worth to be read just to be aware that things are different than the way CNN tells you.

I bought this book about three years ago. When I first tried to read it, I couldn't get very far because the subject matter was unfamiliar to me. I mean, what is all this "imperialism" stuff? Since then, a US administration has grabbed power in a judicial coup d'etat and now wields a brazen imperial style of rule.

So, going through my bookshelves, I picked up Mr. Parenti's "Against Empire" and started reading again. If you, like me, have wondered why the rich get richer and poor get poorer; why the wealthy are always favored; why the common people kill and die in dubious wars while the rich reap the rewards; why the corporate media censors dissenting views; and why our country operates in ways that defy common sense or exemplify hypocrisy; then this book is for you.

Mr. Parenti's talent is putting matters that seem complicated into terms that the layman can understand. For example, his explanation of the distinction between government and the state is revelatory. He also gives the reader historical context and easily verfiable examples to back up his assertions. Halfway through "Against Empire" you will better understand what goes on behind the doors of power and why.

Remember "The Matrix"? Well, "Against Empire" is like a red pill that you have to chew, and once you've digested it you'll see with open eyes. If you're unprepared for the truth, resume swallowing the blue pill of cable TV news. Or, read "A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn and "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" by Greg Palast, then begin reading Parenti's "Against Empire."

I've read the other reviews here and I must say one thing: those who claim that Parenti is crying "conspiracy" have no idea what they're talking about. Perhaps the fact that this is so far-reaching and exaggerated makes them assume the extreme. Most critics of the U.S. government, from the right and left, will agree that the atrocities made in the name of capitalism (not 'democracy' as we are so often told) by the U.S. are endless and without conscience. Parenti points this out. Parenti does what the blurb on the front cover of the book contends: he gives a "Brilliant exposé of the brutal realities of U.S. Global Domination" with well founded and backing statistics.
For those who maintain that this is an opinion piece, I tell you that this is the idea that the writer intends, to expose through example- for you need not "quote" history- the true Evil that is the U.S. capitalist military machine.
Let's not get lost in scholarly exercises of citing and the endless circle of recycling the words of others. Parenti has something to say here and he says it well.

This was the first of many books I've read by Michael Parenti, and remains my favorite. There exist numerous books that get into more detail regarding the history that Parenti regurgitates, but for a book that's roughly 200 pages, this sums up imperialism pretty well.

There will be two different types of people reading this book. The people who will read this that will reinforce the their conviction that the United States was, and remains an imperialist country, and those who reject that America is even an "Empire" to begin with, thus disputing the very premise of the book. The latter will despise this book due to its very raw and blunt breakdown.

One could deny that America is an imperialist country, I suppose, just as one can deny that the Ukraine was under the thumb of the Soviet Union because the Ukraine had their own table at the U.N., but one doesn't have to commence an extensive investigation to comprehend the absurdity of that notion. For example, this book points out the unpleasant truth that post-World War 2 (the timeframe most of this book is dedicated to) the United States has sustained countless dictatorships via military, economy and political support, and, although professing an allegiance to democracy in the Third World, overthrowing dozens of elected governments. Why? Because their polices were not in accordance with that of American business wellbeing, yet those dictators supported were subservient to those same interests.

So in essence, Parenti does a wonderful job of explaining how America habitually selects the type of society people in a country will live under and sends support to maintain the leaders the United States designates as "appropriate". He also does a great hob of explaining how imperialism keeps underdeveloped nations underdeveloped through institutional obstacles, such as large scale industry from the richer country taking over the smaller indigenous ones, thus retarding the growth and development of their own capital.


Anton Batey
Anton_Batey@yahoo.com

For those who think one requires endless "documentation" and "proof" to ascertain the level to which the U.S. Corporateacracy has obliterated (and continues to obliterate) our few remaining freedoms, one need only look around oneself and develop a heart of compassion for those who suffer under the iron fist of capitalism. Yes, documentation and proof (of which Dr. Parenti has a sufficient amount) are helpful, but one can only provide so much of it until it becomes painfully apparent that one need only observe his/her immediate environment to figure out that life is less than tolerable. AGAINST EMPIRE is yet another salient and sharply accurate appraisal of a society owned and operated by those who sit atop a massive mountain of cold, hard, cash, mostly white men who percieve those below them as they would lint to be brushed off of their well-starched and pressed suits. Those who accuse Parenti of being "fraudulent" or pandering "too much" towards the radical left spectrum are simply rightists who don't like him for being a leftist. They themselves offer little (if anything) amounting to "evidence" to support their ad hominem jabs. Parenti is, as the cliche goes, tellin' it like it is, and they don't much like that a wit. Parenti is SCARY in his honesty, and they don't like THAT either. For those who want a picture of just how disturbing the "American Dream" really is, one need look no further than Dr. Michael Parenti and AGAINST EMPIRE. His other publications are also highly recommended. BLACKSHIRTS AND REDS is also excellent and harshly disturbing. Read him, and learn the TRUTH.

like the other reviewer said...yes, it's life changing! i first read about this book in college, and before that, I have never questioned about what I read in text books, in the news of our media...this book opend up my eyes to a different view of the world around us...no matter you are democrat, republican, hippis, conservatives, please read this book and it will forever remind you to keep an open mind and an open eye...because that's what it did for me! i recommend this to everyone, because it's thought provoking, it challenges you interllectually...I believe this book has created many new critical thinker of our time!

I'm American. A born-in-the-Midwest cornfed type whom the rest of the world increasingly hates more and more. I grew up in a white middle class family. And now, thanks to Parenti, I question the relevence of it all. At what cost to my parents, my world, and my fellow humans?

Other reviewers acurately point out that not everything in the book is neatly backed up, but one can't deny the wide scope and dead on reality of the majority of the book. This book is a MUST read for anyone who lives in America and considers the American foreign policy either bad or good.

Buy it - buy it now. It will open your eyes to corporate run media, campaign reform, foreign policy, the oil industry, and why the world disdains Americans.

I started reading Parenti through this book that I got after I met him. It is offensive... if truth offends... It is subversive... if trying to expose reality is going against the well established lies. It is brief and straight to the heart of the problem, the one that many people refuse to face. Perhaps it is its briefness that makes it even more palatable in this oppressive days when the markets rule the world.