Customer Reviews

The Geopolitics of Chaos

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This work is still very vital as a work of analysis. Although some of the situations that were current during the writing of this book have changed quite a bit, the general analysis and much of the information and quotes provided are highly relevant. Ramonet brings some intriguing ideas to debates on globalization and the role of the state and his work on the problems of groups reverting to occult and nationalist dogmas, the politics of fear in the face of a so-called modernity that works against their interests... Ramonet keenly psychologizes the patters of oppressed peoples seeking strength in taking out aggressions on other oppressed peoples, since the centers of power are so far away, and the powerful able to manipulate opinion and information in many areas to achieve such a result. Ramonet confronts the question, throughout this work, what is the role of the state in these times and how can a concerned populus move beyond the false security of antiquated ideologies to actually take back some sovereignty? It's a brave work... though there are some downfalls...
For one, the translation was obviously quick as there are numerous annoying mistakes and gaps... and there is little in the way of actual citation. And while I recognize some of the material cited, it is very annoying and opens the book up to calls of credibility that such important citations are missing.
Ramonet's newer work in translation is much better and suffers from none of these flaws.