As you know I'm working on Part Three of my series of Special Articles.
Part One began as an analysis of Putin's Address to the Federal Assembly which marks a pivotal point in Russian history – perhaps in history in general— to the extent it signals the creation of a new, very successful civilizational model— a rare event.
There are historic parallels with each establishing a precedent for the development of subsequent civilizations. Don't weep for America!
Part Two dealt with Biden's State of the Union address which is quite the opposite to Putin's. It too marks a turning point —for the United States—as it declines and will most likely collapse—not only in terms of global influence and power but as a viable single state. The world will not weep for the passing.
Part Two focuses mostly on American foreign policy and the delusions that underpin it.
But that was only part of what was revealed in Biden's quite unique State of the Union address.
Perhaps more important is what the speech revealed about American economic and social policies and their likely effects on the diverse communities that cobble together the cluster fuck union of 50 states.
The nuts-and-bolts of US “democracy”
I am researching Part Three now—the nuts and bolts— which is a lot of work. It requires reading a lot of history, economics, social anthropology and the like— trying to make connections outside conventional wisdom.
But I am not the only one. All at once it seems, there are a lot of people talking about the decline of the West and the rise of the East.
As it happens, the Duran did one of their interesting roundtable videos: Michael Hudson, Glen Diesen, and Alex Mercouris discuss US Economic Decline and Rise of Greater Eurasia. Most of this discussion revolves around Hudson's theories which are presented very well in his book Super Imperialism a free download here.You can access it here.
(Please support the Duran. I support it and I hope you do too.)
If you have trouble accessing the video on the Duran's website so I I have downloaded the roundtable discussion, and the video is available at the end of this article.
You will notice strong confluence between the gist of the discussion on the Duran and other thinkers and analysts.
One such is Emmanuel Todd who most recently published La Défaite de l'Occident.
Todd, a demographer, social anthropologist, historian and political scientist, is famous for predicting the collapse of the USSR—extrapolating polymathically from infant mortality data!
He also later opposed the Maastricht Treaty—whose flaws became devastatingly obvious during the Greek Debt Crisis— which brought another polymath into the spotlight—mathematician, game theorist, and political economist, Yanis Varoufakis.
Varoufakis has new book out Techno Feudalism Killed Capitalism – is a must-read. (The Jacobin does a pretty good analysis-- as it does of Todd!)
I advise you to read the Jacobin articles— and, if possible, Phil Butler's excellent article on Techno Feudalism at NEO —THEN attend to the Duran’s roundtable.
Part 3 and the SOTU Show
Hopefully, in Part Three of the Special Article, I can add to this discussion, hopefully filling in the gaps obvious in the previous two parts.
It seems clear to me that although Russian and Chinese "capitalisms" are doing well—as parts of virtuous circles (cycles) benefiting the People in Russia and China and the development of their societies, the opposite is the case in the US and its satellites states.
The success of Russia and China are the death knell of American “capitalism”. One world dies – others are born.
While Americans tend to think that capitalism is one thing, there are many forms of it— depending upon what constitutes "capital" itself, which can be a lot of different things. It should not be conflated with entrepreneurship or even free enterprise or democracy as Americans usually do. Nor is it inherent in human nature.
What Americans have is really a form of economic fascism— a.k.a. “neo-feudalism”.
Medieval feudalism was backed up by the church. Modern feudalism has the Media.
After you have looked at the Duran’s video, please add your ideas in the Comments section.
There are a lot of smart people here on Substack. Your comments and criticisms will help me in writing the special article.
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Animal Sense
Yes, that's a baby fox. It's a Fennec – which are popular exotic pets. The last time I saw one was in Tokyo running around in a vacant lot just been cleared for construction.
These animals are very shy and don't like strangers. Word to the wise – if you try to pick up a Fennec without a proper introduction— you can get a nasty bite – they have very sharp teeth.
Of course, I couldn't get close to the fox in the lot.
These are not domesticated animals, and it is you must adapt – not them. Cute as they are – and often friendly and affectionate family – they have boundaries. As I said, they are easily frightened. There also nocturnal and do not housetrain very well. Still, who can resist a face like that?
Late to the party, but worth adding a comment.
Nicknames were always given for a good reason, and some of them used to reveal a family tradition or flaw. Varoufakis' family name in Greek means "the Greek from Crete that talks ...BS"! Literally!
This Greek politician when given the opportunity to do something positive for his country, as the finance minister of the "leftist" government of Tsipras, simply played along with the worst EU policies and harsh austerity, and obeyed every absurd demand of the EU institutions. He was later thrown out of the ruling elite as a used napkin, and now he is rounding all possible fora to sell leftism and big ideas to the gullible... Yeap... Big Yanis (written with a single "n" like that vulgar 4-letter English word) Varoufakis, the BS...ter!
In the modern hierarchy of GAE (Globalist American Empire, not to be confused with the original US), I'd say that both media & academia play the role of clergy.
As for Russia & China, these RT articles from some months ago are rather telling:
https://www.rt.com/business/582781-russia-china-freight-traffic/
https://www.rt.com/russia/589177-putin-opens-longest-trans-siberian-tunnel/
The takeaway is that they're getting infrastructure built linking Russia & China, it's well-constructed, aesthetic, and within budget/deadline. More than that, when's the last time the US was able to accomplish anything like this? Decades ago, easily. Nowadays, any attempt at large-scale construction gets mired down by delays, cost overruns, red tape, corruption, and so on, and it tends to be ugly. A sign of the times.