This is a weekly thread in which we read through books on and related to imperialism and geopolitics. Last week’s thread is here
The book we are currently reading through is Empire’s Workshop by Greg Grandin. There are two main editions, to my knowledge: the original one with a yellow cover from 2006, and an updated version from 2021 with an orange cover. I am reading the latter version.
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This week, we will be reading Chapter 11.
Next week, we will be reading Chapter 12.
What a book to have gotten into over the last couple months - fuck America, of course.
The tiniest of silver linings is that, through reading this book, we now have a better perspective on these sorts of actions by the US, how the US has done things historically, and how these periods are somewhat cyclical and also signify the general attitude of American imperialism. Though, this time, Palestine was the key mask-off moment that let us all know what this new stage of imperial decline will entail (wildly illegal and cruel bombing campaigns and invasions as the financial tools of sanctions, tariffs, and blockades begin to fail).