Globalisation

Looking back beyond the events that triggered Tunisia’s overthrow of President Ben Ali, the systemic corruption of the state’s numerous officials emerges not as the anomaly of dictatorship, but as the structural control of a surplus population expanded by decades of neoliberal restructuring – writes L.S. in his second Arab Revolts Blog posting

All over the world, the capitalist states are taking austerity measures to slow the growth of their debts. It is obvious that this policy, since it slows consumption, can’t in itself sustain the growth required for capital accumulation. Where, then, can the necessary economic stimulus come from? For lack of alternatives, eyes are turning eastward. It seems, writes Sander, that history, the supreme ironist, has chosen ‘communist’ China as global capitalism’s saviour.

Focusing on specific events and mythologies attached to past and recent maritime radicalism, historian Marcus Rediker talks to Omar El-Khairy about piracy, the origins of global capitalism, and the poetics of history from below. This interview was facilitated by Gasworks in the context of their Hydrachy: Power and Resistance at Sea exhibition

1. The Shifting Figure of the Pirate: from the golden age of piracy to its place in popular imagination today

On 1 July 2008 Mute hosted an open discussion entitled 'Feeding Frenzy: Food, Fuel and Finance' in which we tried to connect the recent food crisis to a chain of 'crises' – first the credit crunch and, following hard on its heals, the unprecedented hike in fuel prices. We would like to continue this debate here with your help!