Capitalism, Hegemony and Violence in the Age of Drones

Description

This book offers a critical analysis of the rise of the US to global hegemony against a background of increased erosion of democracy and rule of law, and a rising linear pattern of near-absolute capitalist development. The author argues that the significant shrinkage of the ideological spectrum globally, as a result of worrisome levels of business and government interpenetration, has created a dangerous 'prefascist configuration' whereby unthinkable levels of violence have been normalized through the use of technologies such as drones, increasingly condoned even by 'liberal' groups and the so-called political left. Using the example of the Obama administration and its increased reliance on drone assassinations, the volume makes a case for the dangers that lie in today's unique convergence of lack of transparency in government, business-government interpenetration, informal social regimentation, and militarization of capitalism. Front Matter ....Pages i-x Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Introduction: Moral-Political Philosophy, a Spectrum Shift Rightward (Norman Pollack)....Pages 3-24 Advancing Monopoly Capitalism: A Totalitarian Mental Landscape (Norman Pollack)....Pages 25-43 Hierarchical Structuring of the Social Order: Ideological Implications (Norman Pollack)....Pages 45-63 Interpenetration: Business-Government Co-partnership (Norman Pollack)....Pages 65-80 Comparative Probing of Fascism: Japan and America (Norman Pollack)....Pages 81-104 Liberal Dimensions of Structural Uniformity: Capitalism and National Power (Norman Pollack)....Pages 105-114 Front Matter ....Pages 115-115 Framework of Corporatism: Contrasts in Leadership (FDR vs. Obama) (Norman Pollack)....Pages 117-136 Political Reflections: Education of a (Sometime) Radical (Norman Pollack)....Pages 137-167 Master of Counterrevolution: Obama—Character and Policies (Norman Pollack)....Pages 169-194 Butchers of the Beltway: Anatomy of “Legitimated Violence” (Norman Pollack)....Pages 195-215 American/Israeli War Crimes: National Policies Engendering Fear (Norman Pollack)....Pages 217-244 Contempt for the Law: Presidential Subterfuge (Norman Pollack)....Pages 245-262 Nadir of Public Morality: The Age of the Drone (Norman Pollack)....Pages 263-297 The Drone and Aberrant Government: Normalization of the Unthinkable (Norman Pollack)....Pages 299-323 On Distance and Disconnection: Entering a Moral Black Hole (Norman Pollack)....Pages 325-345 “Greater Leverage”: Military-Speak for Imperialism (Norman Pollack)....Pages 347-370 A Moment in American Policy: The Death of Anwar al-Awlaki (Norman Pollack)....Pages 371-386 Transgressions of Moral Law: Enlarged Scope of Legal Authority (Norman Pollack)....Pages 387-400 Stirrings Toward Usurpation: Defying the Rule of Law (Norman Pollack)....Pages 401-420 Echoes of the Cold War: A Strategy of Preemptive Strikes (Norman Pollack)....Pages 421-437 Epilogue: Threads Left Unexplored: Objectification and Bureaucratization (Norman Pollack)....Pages 439-459 Back Matter ....Pages 461-483