Double episode! On Giovanni Arrighi's Adam Smith in Beijing.
[Patreon Tier II & III Exclusive]
We wrap up the 2023 syllabus by taking on the second half of Arrighi's book, in which he analyses the over-reach and decline of the US empire, and whether China's rise and role in world affairs presents a different model, one that might be more peaceful. We discuss:
- How important was the neo-cons' Project for a New American Century?
- What were the long-term consequences of the Iraq invasion?
- What do we make of Arrighi's theoretical account of imperialism and the tension between territorial and capitalistic logics?
- Did the USA represent a "world state" after WWII, and how did it fail?
- What is the world-historic meaning of China’s development?
- Do we buy Arrighi’s attempt at a Smithean vision of inter-civilizational harmony?
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