From the
Michael Parenti Political Archive:
To many, the foreign policy directives of the United States seem bewildering and sometimes inharmonious with its domestic political values. Why does the U.S. seem to support foreign dictators? Why has it invested so many of its resources in stockpiling nuclear arms? Why doesn’t the U.S. act as a force for peace throughout the world?
In this probing, provocative analysis, Michael Parenti reveals the hidden agenda of American foreign policy decisions. No matter which party is in power, the U.S. acts to protect the interests of large American-based corporations, in order to maintain valuable overseas markets and cheap foreign labor.
In lucid detail, Michael Parenti examines just how these very private interests determine America’s public policy goals, from the impoverishment of developing nations to the building of an intimidating nuclear arsenal. What he discovers will surely be controversial and suggests that the greatest threats to democracy — both here and abroad — may emanate from within the United States itself.
Contents
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A Policy neither Fainthearted nor Foolish
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Imperialism and the Myth of Underdevelopment
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Maldevelopment and a “Sharp Philanthropy”
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The Mean Methods of Imperialism (I)
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The Mean Methods of Imperialism (II)
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A Condominium Empire: Neo-Imperialism
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The Empire Strikes Back Home
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The Mythology of Interventionism
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The Real Threat of Revolution
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The Costs of Counterrevolution
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Other Variables — or Must We Ignore Imperialism?
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The Cold War Is an Old War
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The Arms Chase
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“Rational” Nuclearism
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Can We Trust the Russians?
- Against Imperialism
About the Author
Michael Parenti received his Ph.D. in political science from Yale University in 1962. He has taught at a number of colleges and universities, in the United States and abroad. His writings have been translated into Portuguese, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, Turkish, Polish, German, Bangla, and Dutch.
He is the author of fourteen books (see below). His articles have appeared in CovertAction Quarterly; Monthly Review; Prevailing Winds; The Humanist; New Political Science; Nature, Society and Thought; The Nation; Z Magazine; Dollars and Sense and numerous other publications.
He appears on radio and television talk shows to discuss current issues and ideas from his published works. Dr. Parenti’s talks and commentaries are played on radio stations to enthusiastic audiences in the U.S., Canada and abroad.
He lectures on college campuses and before a wide range of audiences across the country. His books are enjoyed by both lay readers and scholars, and have been used extensively in college courses.
Among the many topics he treats are:
- Democracy and Economic Power
- Imperialism and U.S. Interventionism
- Political Bias in the U.S. News Media
- Ideology and History
- Race, Gender, and Class
- The Overthrow of Communism
- Fascism: Past and Present
See also:
Articles & Selections from Published Works of Dr. Parenti http://www.michaelparenti.org/articles.html
A brief, unauthorized history of politically motivated faculty firings at the University of Vermont since 1972
http://www.uvm.edu/~radphil/uvmfirings.htm
Professor Will Miller’s Introduction for Dr. Michael Parenti before an overflow audience on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of his firing by the UVM Trustees.
Books by Michael Parenti
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To Kill a Nation: The Attack on Yugoslavia, 2001; Reveals a decade-long disinformation campaign waged by Western leaders and NATO officials in their pursuit of free-market “reforms”. The political and economic destabilization of Yugoslavia continues today, Parenti shows, as does the forced privatization and Third Worldization of the entire region.
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History as Mystery, 1999; how history is manufactured and distorted by the victors, from early Christianity to today.
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America Besieged,
1998.
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Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism, 1997.
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Dirty Truths, 1996; selected readings on politics, ideology, media, conspiracy, ethnic life, and class power.
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Against Empire, 1995; critiques U.S. imperialism and the New World Order at home and abroad.
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Democracy for the Few, 1995; now in its sixth edition, a critical study of the U.S. political system.
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Inventing Reality: The Politics of News Media, 1993; now in its second edition, the first comprehensive critique of the news media.
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Make-Believe Media, 1992; the hidden politics of the entertainment media.
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Land of Idols: Political Mythology in America, 1994; challenges many of the deceptions put forth by conservative elites.
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The Sword and the Dollar: Imperialism, Revolution, and the Arms Race, 1989; an exposé of U.S. cold war history and interventionism in the Third World.
- Power and the Powerless, 1978
Reviews
“America’s foremost progressive writer and speaker, Parenti is illuminating, penetrating, and never afraid of the truth.”
— James Petras
SUNY professor and noted author
“Radical in the true sense of the word, [Parenti] digs at the roots which...sustain our public consciousness.”
Los Angeles Times Book Review
Related books
Against Empire
by Michael Parenti
Body of Secrets:
Anatomy of the Ultra-Secret National Security Agency
by James Bamford
In 1962, U.S. military leaders had a top-secret plan for committing terrorist attacks on Americans in Miami and Washington D.C., while blaming Cuba. Codenamed “Operation Northwoods”, the plan was intended to provide the propaganda necessary to create popular support for an invasion of Cuba.
To Kill A Nation:
The Attack on Yugoslavia
by Michael Parenti
Pirates and Emperors, Old and New:
International Terrorism in the Real World
by Noam Chomsky
Rogue State:
A Guide to the World’s Only Superpower
by William Blum
Killing Hope:
U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since WWII
by William Blum
Western State Terrorism
Alexander George, editor; essays by Noam Chomsky, Edward S. Herman, Gerry O’Sullivan and others
The Fire This Time:
U.S. War Crimes in the Gulf
by Ramsey Clark
Desert Slaughter:
The Imperialist War Against Iraq
by the Workers League
What Uncle Sam Really Wants
by Noam Chomsky
The Beast Reawakens
by Martin A. Lee
The Real Terror Network:
Terrorism in Fact and Propaganda
by Edward S. Herman
Hidden Agenda:
U.S./NATO Takeover of Yugoslavia
by Ramsey Clark, Nadja Tesich, Michel Chossudovsky, Slobodan Milosevic, numerous authors
NATO in the Balkans:
Voices of Opposition
by Ramsey Clark, Sean Gervasi, Nadja Tesich, Sara Flounders, Thomas Deichmann, Gary Wilson and Richard Becker
NATO TARGETS
(video)
produced by Gloria La Riva
The Phoenix Program
by Douglas Valentine
Apocalypse 1945:
The Destruction of Dresden
by David Irving
Saving Private Power:
The Hidden History of “The Good War”
by Michael Zezima
Market Elections:
How “Democracy” Serves the Rich
by Vince Copeland
Corporate Predators:
The Hunt for Mega-Profits and the Attack on Democracy
by Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman
Derailing Democracy:
The America the Media Don’t Want You to See
by David McGowan
A People’s History of the United States:
1492 — Present
by Howard Zinn
The Decline and Fall of the American Empire
by Gore Vidal
Censored 2000:
The Year’s Top 25 Censored Stories
by Peter Phillips & Project Censored
Deadly Deceits:
My 25 years in the CIA
by Ralph W. McGehee
Globalize This!
The Battle Against the World Trade Organization and Corporate Rule
edited by Kevin Danaher and Roger Burbach; multiple authors
Lies My Teacher Told Me:
Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong
by James Loewen
The American Presidency
by Gore Vidal
The Habits of Highly Deceptive Media:
Decoding Spin and Lies in Mainstream News
by Norman Solomon
Toxic Sludge is Good for You!:
Lies, Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry
by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton