Really interesting, thanks for this. I was about to suggest that the information you said about the US base in the Philippines was a bit out of date (the Subic bay base closed 3 decades ago?). I go to google it to make sure I’m not talking out of my arse and low and behold I see that :
“The United States stands steadfastly in support of the Philippines as we announced plans today to expand the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Arrangement (EDCA) to include four new sites: Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; Balabac Island in Palawan; and Lal-lo Airport”, April 2023
Really good summary and feels so accurate. I had trouble finding a cheap copy of Empire as a Way of Life, so I got his earlier (1980) work, "Contours of American History," from library. I slogged through all 488 pages; it hits on the same themes as you discuss (in sometimes excruciating detail).
And then today, I came across this quote by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in an interview in The New Yorker. He's responding to a question about his support from the MAGA crowd. Resonates with Williams' analysis for sure.
"... a vision of the idealistic America that I believe in—the same America that my father and my uncle believed in: an America without censorship; an America that fights for our Constitution; an America that is a moral authority around the world, that projects economic power around the globe rather than military violence..."
The U.S. needs to pay less attention to power projection of any sort and more to rebuilding its own decaying physical and social infrastructure, more domestic and regionalized, more in line with ecological limits and planetary boundaries. I’ll get to that in my conclusion to this series. p.s. Ironically I got my current copy of “Empire” for $1 at Value Village years ago, same price for which I bought “Contours” at a Portland used book store that specialized in taking leavings from Powell’s back in the miid-90s. Read it then. Also brilliant.
Really interesting, thanks for this. I was about to suggest that the information you said about the US base in the Philippines was a bit out of date (the Subic bay base closed 3 decades ago?). I go to google it to make sure I’m not talking out of my arse and low and behold I see that :
“The United States stands steadfastly in support of the Philippines as we announced plans today to expand the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Arrangement (EDCA) to include four new sites: Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; Balabac Island in Palawan; and Lal-lo Airport”, April 2023
Wow
😮
Yes. The U.S. is back in. The colonial relationship never ends. Facilitated by the comprador oligarchy of a handful of families.
Really good summary and feels so accurate. I had trouble finding a cheap copy of Empire as a Way of Life, so I got his earlier (1980) work, "Contours of American History," from library. I slogged through all 488 pages; it hits on the same themes as you discuss (in sometimes excruciating detail).
And then today, I came across this quote by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in an interview in The New Yorker. He's responding to a question about his support from the MAGA crowd. Resonates with Williams' analysis for sure.
"... a vision of the idealistic America that I believe in—the same America that my father and my uncle believed in: an America without censorship; an America that fights for our Constitution; an America that is a moral authority around the world, that projects economic power around the globe rather than military violence..."
The U.S. needs to pay less attention to power projection of any sort and more to rebuilding its own decaying physical and social infrastructure, more domestic and regionalized, more in line with ecological limits and planetary boundaries. I’ll get to that in my conclusion to this series. p.s. Ironically I got my current copy of “Empire” for $1 at Value Village years ago, same price for which I bought “Contours” at a Portland used book store that specialized in taking leavings from Powell’s back in the miid-90s. Read it then. Also brilliant.