Morning Comrades.
Over the last few months I have often tapped into the concept of a multipolar world, sometimes more in-depth and sometimes not and before I share a number of resources, ideas and giggles to take you through your weekend, a few words as I see them, today.
I am certain that anyone reading this has been experiencing, on whatever level, the giant shifts in our understanding of the world, especially if you, like myself were born and live here in the Global North West. Don’t worry, you are not alone and even NASA is wondering what is happening:
All jokes aside, of course, “the vibes are off”, as we are fast approaching the end of the US Hegemonic Era, in all regards, politically, economically and what most of us are feeling, culturally. As Žižek, almost correctly said of Gramsci: “The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters” - whilst I am unconvinced of the monsters part, long-term especially, in the short-term, yes, power abhors a vacuum and that is what we have been experiencing over the last 20 years.
It is without a doubt that I grew up in an “Western” aka a US controlled economic and cultural reality, potentially more so than your average as my family was a part of the British military and especially my early life existed solely within the confines of Her Majesty’s Imperial Reality, which isn’t an hyperbole, my early years being based in Germany, my Grandparents and Parents referred to Germany ( this was the 70s ) as occupied territory, still. Point being, my entire cultural and political understanding of the world was formed and nurtured to support the US / NATO / later the EU’s hegemonic reality and I am certain most of you can relate to that. It wasn’t until I hit University and with no thanks to its supposed “progressive” curriculum that I explored the reality of what our supposed “cultural superiority” rested on: Imperialism, Genocide, War aka Capitalism. I would assume that my first eye opener in regards to to learning different narratives about history / present tense was when we all moved to Warsaw in 1993 - without a shadow of a doubt I moved there thinking that “we” had won the Cold War and would be welcomed to the old Soviet Union to bring “democracy” - yes, I was 14 - only to fuck around and very quickly find out that this narrative wasn’t shared with hundreds of millions of people that had grown up behind the Iron Curtain. Interesting times I tell you and one day I am going to sit down with my dearest friend, who still resides in Warsaw, and write a book about those years, because the “finding out” parts are many and the stories should be told.
In any case, the context of existence here in the West has always been built on Imperialism ( read: war, exploitation and destruction ) abroad to safeguard a placated society whose only role was to produce and consume even more. Obviously, this entire deck of cards built on debt and war cannot last forever, that is one fact that history teaches us about empires and 9/11 signalled the end of that existence, especially in regards to the waning power of the US - generally maintained through the largest army the world has ever seen and brutally undemocratic, corrupt monetary institutions such as the IMF - and that is all coming to an end, but the big question remains: what is to come - i.e. how are we, as the biggest benefactors of this corrupt and brutal empire going to be dealt with when the shit hits the fan?
Truth is: no one really knows and I certainly don’t either. I can guess but there are smarter people than myself already doing so - I’ll share a few of thoughts shortly. One fact I am absolutely certain of: Power, as a reality and a concept that shapes our species, does not tolerate vacuums and the self-destructive downward spiral into theocratic fascism of the US is leaving a lot of power vacuums, as most recently noticed with almost the entire South American Continent, democratically, opting out of being the US’ vassal. Anyone that remembers the military realities on that continent from the 50s onwards understands just how big of a deal that is.
Obviously, China is a the biggest player on the global stage these days and they have been working hard at replacing the US as the hegemon on this planet. Interesting to me is that their approach is entirely different than what I used to perceive as “normal” - but again, there are smarter people than myself explaining that difference.
Coming back to Žižek’s interpretation of Gramsci - the old world, that we were indoctrinated into, is dying and much, much quicker than I had ever anticipated. A new world isn’t, however, struggling to be born as far as I am concerned, it is simply happening outside of our culturally nurtured reality and for once, in 500 years, we aren’t the immediate benefactors. That could mean that the the time of monsters directly relates to us, or rather, our masters, who truly are monsters and are working full-time to instal a techno-fascist theocracy in the West to maintain control over us, essentially to maintain a dying economic system that benefits only them. I do believe that it is down to us, the beaten and suffering working classes of this dying Empire to reckon with those responsible and look towards the Global South, to work together, reconcile, repair the damage done and build a multipolar, better world for all. I’ve never been afraid of monsters and if Scooby Doo taught is anything is that monsters are 100% of the time, nothing but old white dudes in costumes. Easily dealt with.
With that, I am going to be sharing a number of resources that all tie into this subject from and by people that teach me. If this topic is interesting to you, bookmark the below, get into it and go find that costumed old white man and deal with him.
Have a lovely weekend, the beginning is near. Yours, without compromise,
V.
If you read one piece about this subject, make it this one. Absolute benchmark.
Last but not least, this is a remarkable speech / essay from the US with highly unusual insight- whilst I don’t agree with it all ( totally fine ) this is worthy of your time only to remind ourselves that it is the US Capitalists / Government that need muting ( put lightly ) and that there are voices of reason left:
As always, thank you for your time, attention and support. Smooches.