The Decline and Fall of the American Empire
Listen on this week's podcast
Empires come and go. They’re sometimes long, sometimes short. But ultimately they fall. Hubris, incredible arrogance, is often the element that brings the mighty down. The U.S. is not immune from decline. With its ruinous wars, bloated Pentagon budget, military bases all over the earth, grotesque levels of inequality and an economy that spews red ink we are witnessing its diminishing power. Recall the words of President Eisenhower in his 1961 Farewell Address. He warned of the dangers posed by “the military-industrial-complex” and its “potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”
Recorded at the University of California.
Speaker
Johan Galtung
Johan Galtung of Norway was a leading advocate of non-violent solutions to resolving conflicts. He was the founder and director of Transcend, a global network for conflict resolution. Among his many books are Choose Peace and Peace by Peaceful Means. He was the winner of the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize. He passed away in late March 2024 at the age of 93.
jewel autograph –
Doesn’t Johan Galtung’s world overview of United States politics, culture, religious, economics speak truth on many levels and aspects? On a personal level, what are we contributing to the deficiencies or solutions Galtung outlined, beginning with our own thoughts, words and deeds?
Judith Morrow –
Inspiring, in a humous way expands the concert of colonialism to Empire and how these work to overtake us.
Jess –
Yes, thank you, for Johan Galtung.
From a listener in Northern California –
Thank you for Johan Galtung.
Susan –
Thank you so much for airing his talk on KPFK. His words 20 years ago are timeless. I thought he was speaking now until I heard reference to the President. He is so clear, concise and easy to comprehend. I only wish I had heard him sooner.