What is called globalization is, in fact, global capitalism under the cultural, political and economic hegemony of the United States. While other players exercise considerable influence, e.g., Germany, we now live in a uni-polar world where U.S.influence is predominant. This new form of capitalist globalization -- via debt, SAP's, NAFTA, WTO, GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services), TRIP (Trade Related Intellectual Property Agreement) and TRIM (Trade Related Investment Measures -- is itself a new form of intervention.
The US does not simply and crudely intervene in a military sense; thus a "Hands Off" policy doesn't address the problem. Rather the US enforces the structural, economic intervention of (by and for) the transnational corporations. The structural adjustment programs (SAP's) of the IMF lay the necessary conditions for building the international assembly line of the transnational corporations. This in turn is legitimated by the ideology of the neo-liberal, controlled "free" market. Economic and political relations between TNC's and states amount to intervention by the stronger, i.e. the TNC's, in the weaker, i.e. the states. When opposition is expressed at the local level, military intervention comes into play in the guise of some humanitarian or do-gooder effort.
The RPA can play a unique role in analyzing the various forms of intervention of brought about by this new form of capitalism. As philosophers, we can deconstruct the various ideological legitimations of interventions.
Our general task will be to reach those in the progressive community who are confused by the humanitarian discourses that serve as a cover for imperialist intervention. Using RPA's intellectual resources, the Anti-Intervention Project can develop articles and pamphlets for students and the progressive community alike (pamphlets such as the one produced by some NYC members of RPA on the NATO intervention in Yugoslavia and on the model of the anti-death penalty project's materials for use in classes). We can also develop resources for teach-ins on college campuses, speakers bureaus, etc.
SPECIFIC PROJECTS
(1) how this neo-liberal, global system generates new forms of
intervention;
(2) critique of specific interventions, e.g., Iraq, Yugoslavia,
Colombia, Israel, Cuba.
(3) critique of the specific legitimation of these interventions;
(4) critique of Habermas' defense of the NATO intervention;
(5) analysis of the way in which the U.S. demonizes various
foreign leaders and the underlying philosophy of demonization;
historical analysis of the search for an enemy;
(6) critique of the concept of humanitarian intervention and
critique of human rights discourse as a legitimation for
intervention;
(7) analysis of "the war on drugs" as a cover for intervention;
(8) lessons learned from the interventions of the last decade;
(9) other.
Proposal for a Colombia Task Force of the Anti-Intervention Project
The Colombia Task Force proposes to study the following topics and disseminate results in pamphlet form.
1. The history of Colombia: Is it a war on drugs (once again)
getting in the middle of a civil war?
2. The actors in the present conflict: Who is the FARC, who does
the government speak for, who are the paramilitaries, who are the
local, civic organizations opposing "Plan Colombia"?
3. What are US interests in the region? What global companies are
supporting the government's initiative in Colombia?
4. It seems that the war on drugs has not resulted in slowing the
flow of drugs; the price of cocaine is down. Why then is the
government continuing to intervene abroad while cutting funds for
drug treatment at home?
5. The intervention in Colombia in a larger perspective:
Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Kosovo,
6. The race factor in the Colombian intervention: a war on drugs
or a war on people of color?
It is the goal of this group to help promote a wider understanding of the issues of US intervention in Colombia. Many people probably are inclined to approve of US actions there because they see it as an attempt to reduce the drug problem at home while maintaining law and order in Colombia where the government is threatened by "guerillas." The news does not contain any more information than that.
In order to foster opposition to US government policies, we need to disseminate information wherever we can. We intend to distribute the information we gather (written up in compact leaflets about 10 pp. or so). We can distribute these leaflets to student groups on campuses where we and other RPA members have a presence, to various left political groups, to Latin American Studies associations, to groups of Afro-Am students, etc.. We envisage also offering to groups to bring in speakers to essentially introduce our leaflets and lead a discussion about them.