#hegemony
Academia Link: CLICK HERE TO READ
ABSTRACT: Mainstream analysis and commentary on drug trafficking and related violence in Mexico focuses overwhelmingly on the narco-cartels as sources of the problem and presents the US as a well intentioned player helping to conduct a ‘war on drugs’ out of concern for addiction, crime and violence. This article offers an alternative interpretation, grounded in critical political economy, showing that in addition to fuelling the narcotics industry in Mexico thanks to its large drug consumption and loose firearms regulations, the US shares much responsibility for its expansion thanks to its record of support for some of the main players in the drugs trade, such as the Mexican government and military, and by implementing neoliberal reforms that have increased the size of the narcotics industry. The war on drugs has served as a pretext to intervene in Mexican affairs and to protect US hegemonic projects such as NAFTA, rather than as a genuine attack on drug problems. In particular, the drugs war has been used repeatedly to repress dissent and popular opposition to neoliberal policies in Mexico. Finally, US banks have increased their profits by laundering drug money from Mexico and elsewhere; the failure to implement tighter regulations testifies to the power of the financial community in the US.
Academia Link: CLICK HERE TO READ
The U.S. position on the present international arena has been steadily sinking and its unchallenged position will end after decades.
The U.S. end predicted by the international community and even within the U.S. is the stern declaration of the history.
Aggression wars, military pressure, interference in internal affairs and economic sanctions are the main factors that have led the U.S. structure of hegemony to its end.
The U.S. fought many wars after the end of the Cold War.
In the new century, it has become evermore undisguised in its high-handed and arbitrary practices, aggression and war moves.
The U.S. has made no scruple to realize its ambition for hegemony. It is out of question that the international community would not keep mum about its moves.
Many countries have risen up against the U.S. hegemony.
Cooperation has been strengthened among countries concerned about the U.S. military hegemony.
The military capabilities that the U.S. regards as the main pillar of its world domination fail to prop up the rickety American empire.
Militarization of economy is plunging the debt-ridden U.S. economy into a catastrophe.
The U.S. committed wars in Afghanistan and Iraq which are no match for it, but the war theaters have become the traps that pushed the policy of strength enforced by the “only superpower in the world” to bankruptcy.
The present international financial and monetary system with the U.S. dollar as a main currency is shaking down to the roots.
Many countries are willing to sit with the U.S. on an equal basis and if not, they refuse to deal with the U.S.
The U.S. arbitrary practice and big show rampant in the international arena are no more than the last-ditch efforts of the empire.
Those who attempt to bring the trend of the history for independence back to the past will fall into a ditch of the history.
Rodong Sinmun, Ri Hyon Do
learned a new word/concept at this in it to win it school. “hegemony.”
not going to get too deep into it YET—i will after I get home. but for now, let me just say, i have never known what “hegemony” is because it’s almost *exclusively* used by young white kids who went through a few classes at university. and they focus on a very specific *part* of hegemony (cultural production)—so the very general definition i’ve sort of formulated by studying the words around “hegemony” (lol) is that hegemony is the invisible way that cultural production creates a sense of “normalization” around violent and offensive shit. ex: photoshopped models make us think that beautiful women are ONLY super skinny, white, able bodied, etc.
it’s interesting that this is the focus of how we understand “hegemony”—because as I’ve learned at this school—“hegemony” is *actually* an analysis of power. so it’s not focused on cultural production, although that is a segement of where “power” plays out.
hegemony is basically this formula: hegemony=force+consent+concessions.
i’ll get into this formula more after I get back.
BUT. down a dirty explanation: capitalism is an inherently exploitative system. you sell labor to a “capitalist” (which doesn’t mean what you think it means either), and that capitalist resells your labor (through a product) for far more than what he paid you. that is what profit is—“getting workers to agree to be paid for less than what they are worth.”
now—the way that capitalist (or the ruling class) gets us all to agree to this exploitation is through hegemony=force+consent+concessions formula.
force=police, fbi, dhs, ice, cia, military
concessions=the “things” that the ruling class “allows” such that people *consent* to their exploitation.
those “things” might be anything from “a pay check” to “food on the table” to “social security” to “segregated community” or “good schools.”
so—by giving particular communities the “concession” of a “good school” or “segregated community”—the ruling class is achieving *consent* to continue on with their exploitation.
we ALL give consent through concessions on some level—but that’s only important in a superficial way. what is SUPER SUPER important is that different communities have different *relationships* or *contracts* with “consent.”
the consent contract the white community has made with the ruling class is MUCH different than the consent contract the second generation children of mexican immigrans have made.
i am telling you all this because to me—THIS is the discussion we should be having—THIS is what i have been TRYING to say and just didn’t have the education/language to talk about it. THIS is why i don’t care for the discussion around “privilege” at all. the “privilege” discussion almost completely ignores an analysis of structural power. if it DOES get into that discussion, its an awkward discussion that just doesn’t have precise language or clear conclusions as to why “privilege” matters—or *more importantly* how to renegotiate that goddamn “consent contract.”
ok, day three has started at the in it to win it school—i’ll it here!
hope ur having a good day! :D
IPP
Wow. Thank you so much for breaking this down and spreading your knowledge.
Best post on what hegemony is that I’ve ever read. Thank you.
Wow, this was a really helpful explanation. I’ve never understood the term.
Bolding is mine for the stuff I have been unable to articulate as well. I think this is exactly why I’m over talking about things in terms of privilege, or at least in ways that are limited to ONLY talking about privilege, because it misses all the bigger picture.
Limiting your viewpoint to privilege hones down on individuals and gets caught in “The personal is political,” which is true, yes, but is also an easy way to slink into either guilt or back-patting or lifestyle politics, all of which seem to end in unproductive shaming and focusing on whatever oppressors.
Like I’m not interested in talking about white privilege because I’m not interested in talking much about white people. It’s boring and been forced on me my whole life. (Unless it’s excellent jokes, which of course I enjoy.)
So once again, thank you for being brilliant.
Decolonisation, Stereotypes and The “Mis-Education” of African Fashion
Decolonisation, Stereotypes and The “Mis-Education” of African Fashion
We recently interviewed Dr Erica de Greef for our youtube channel. She shared with us about a new online course offered by her company – AFRI / the African Fashion Research Institute which explores why African fashion stereotypes exist and persist. (Do watch the full interview here and make sure to subscribe, like and share.)
In this interview she shares her thoughts on the need to decolonise…
Shifting Ideology in Mainstream Comics
On Thursday Sept 4 it wasannouncedthat DC Comics will be re-launching the series “Secret Six” being drawn by artist Ken Lashley and written by Gail Simone, who is known for having an active pursuit of diversity in the comics she creates. The announcement of the series’ return was welcomed news by the comic community, but even more so by Simone’s fan base when she made clear via her Tumblrthat…
