As you may know, my first book – “Divide and Ruin” – was published just over three years ago. This book analyzed the West’s twofold response to its economic and military crises: firstly, its use of proxy wars to destroy independent regional powers challenging its global dominance, and secondly its creation of new markets through the destruction and plundering of public services at home. The book was a compilation of articles which had been written from 2009 onwards - and is now urgently in need of an update…
Since it was published, seismic changes have taken place in the relations between the West and the global South. The pattern of defeat analysed in ‘Divide and Ruin’ – then evident in the failure to subdue Iraq and Afghanistan – has now extended to the West’s strategy in Syria. For the first time since Vietnam, the US has failed to destroy a government it has publicly committed military resources towards destroying. This failure has had a profound impact on its global strategy, causing splits within the ruling class, and the emergence of a new policy. This new policy – emanating from within the US military establishment, and represented by incoming US president Donald Trump – understands that the West’s permanent war against the global South cannot continue without Russian acquiescence. So, in preparation for the upcoming war on Iran and economic strangulation of China, it seeks to buy such acquiescence.
At the same time, the unravelling of ‘social imperialism’ – the ‘cut’ of colonial profits accruing to the Western populations in the form of secure jobs, high wages, and quality public services – has continued apace. This has led to a resurgence of elite-sponsored ‘mass movements’ scapegoating immigrants for these losses, and demanding the restoration of both British/ US global power and their own former privileges. These openly supremacist forces are now in the ascendancy throughout Europe and form the social base of the governments of both Britain and the USA.
I now have a large number of articles on these issues ready to be put together into a new book. But to fully account for the latest developments in the West’s slide towards fascism, there are several chapters that need to be added – for example:
- Fascism then and now: a mass movement against declining supremacy
- Brexit-Trump – revolt, or elite-sponsored spectacle of revolt?
- Theresa May’s ‘interventionism’: the merger of corporate and government power
- Trumponomics: a new level of plunder that will sink the dollar – at China’s expense
- Trump’s ‘Russia deal’ and the coming wars on Iran and China
- British-US differences over Russia – it’s all about China
However, in order to write these chapters, and edit together the rest of the book, I will need to take time off my usual paid work. So I am seeking to raise £500 to enable me to do this. I am also seeking a further £500 to cover proofreading, formatting, indexing, cover design and ISBN costs. And finally I am seeking £1000 to finance the printing of the first 200 copies. Anything you are able to contribute towards this venture will be greatly appreciated.
As a token of gratitude, all those who contribute at least £10 will receive an electronic/ kindle copy of the book, and all those who contribute at least £15 will receive a print edition of the book when it comes out (no later than late summer 2017).
Many thanks.
