Socialist Fundamentals 8: Imperialism and Global Capitalism

“The essence of neo-colonialism is that the State which is subject to it is, in theory, independent and has all the outward trappings of international sovereignty. In reality its economic system and thus its political policy is directed from outside.”

- Kwame Nkrumah

In the 1917 text “Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism,” Lenin showed how capitalism, once in its inevitable monopoly stage, necessitates the export of capital to foreign markets in its accumulation of profit, resulting in overt forms of colonial policy and imperialist violence. Kwame Nkrumah, the first leader of independent Ghana, built on this theory further in his work “Neo-Colonialism: The Final Stage of Imperialism.” Nkrumah argues that, following the end of World War 2, overt forms of colonial rule were no longer feasible, and, because of this, new, more subtle forms of exploitation and political control had to be developed—particularly through economic and monetary means.

Join us for part 8 of our ongoing Socialist Fundamentals series as we discuss how global capitalism shifted into its neo-colonial stage, the more subtle means by which global capitalist powers exert economic and political control over the global south, and what all this means for us, as socialists, in the imperial core.

This event will take place at the East Bay DSA office on Friday, September 27, at 6:00pm; this will be in person only. There will be food!

• Reading: Neocolonialism by Kwame Nkrumah (excerpts - intro, ch. 18, conclusion)
• Audio recordings of the readings can be found on our podcast feed!

Details

When: September 27, 2024, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Where: East Bay DSA Office - 1610 Harrison Street, Oakland, CA, 94612
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