How the World Works (Real Story

1. US Foreign Policy Prioritizes Self-Interest Over Idealism

Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity....To do so, we will have to dispense with all sentimentality and daydreaming; and our attention will have to be concentrated everywhere on our immediate national objectives.

Kennan's Realism. George Kennan, a key figure in shaping post-WWII US foreign policy, advocated for a pragmatic approach that prioritized US national interests above vague ideals like human rights and democratization. This perspective, outlined in Policy Planning Study 23 (PPS 23), reflected a belief that the US, with its disproportionate share of global wealth, would inevitably face envy and resentment, necessitating a focus on maintaining its dominant position through power concepts rather than idealistic slogans.

Raw Materials Protection. Kennan's policies extended to Latin America, where he emphasized the protection of US access to raw materials. He viewed any notion of governments having a direct responsibility for the welfare of their people as a dangerous heresy, equating it with communism. This perspective justified interventions aimed at suppressing movements that challenged US economic interests, even if it meant supporting repressive regimes.

Historical Roots. This approach wasn't new. Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of State had already articulated the Monroe Doctrine as prioritizing US interests, with the integrity of other American nations being merely incidental. Wilson himself acted on this principle by invading Haiti and the Dominican Republic, demonstrating a long-standing pattern of US foreign policy driven by self-interest rather than altruism.

2. The Grand Area Strategy Subordinates the World to US Economic Needs

The Third World was to “fulfill its major function as a source of raw materials and a market” for the industrial capitalist societies...

Post-War Planning. During World War II, US planners envisioned a "Grand Area" that would be subordinated to the needs of the American economy. This area encompassed the Western Hemisphere, Western Europe, the Far East, and the Middle East, with the Third World serving as a source of raw materials and a market for industrial societies. This strategy aimed to ensure US dominance in the post-war world.

Division of Labor. The plan assigned specific functions to different regions. Germany and Japan were designated as "great workshops" under US supervision, while the Third World was to be "exploited" for the reconstruction of Europe and Japan. This division of labor reflected a hierarchical view of the global order, with the US at the apex.

Vietnam War Example. The Vietnam War emerged from the need to enforce this service role. Vietnamese nationalists' desire for independence was seen as a threat to the Grand Area strategy, necessitating military intervention to suppress their aspirations. The US government's role was to secure the Grand Area and subsidize high-technology industry, often through military spending.

3. Suppression of Democracy Abroad Ensures Investor Rights

We’ve consistently opposed democracy if its results can’t be controlled.

Controlled Democracy. US planners have consistently prioritized the interests of US investors over genuine democracy in the Third World. Democracy is only acceptable if its results can be controlled, ensuring that governments respond to the needs of US investors rather than their own populations. This often involves supporting authoritarian regimes that protect private enterprise.

Military Alliances. The US relies on force and alliances with the military in Third World countries to crush any indigenous popular groups that get out of hand. Social reforms are tolerated only when labor rights are suppressed and the climate for foreign investment is preserved. Excessive liberalism, such as governments being responsive to popular demands, is viewed as a threat.

Brutal Methods. The suppression of independent nationalism and meaningful democracy often involves brutal tactics, including torture and violence against civilians. The goal is to crush any opposition that might challenge the dominance of US investors and their allies. This approach reflects a commitment to private capitalist enterprise above all else.

4. The Threat of a Good Example Drives US Intervention

The weaker and poorer a country is, the more dangerous it is as an example.

Domino Theory. Even the smallest and poorest countries can pose a threat if they succeed in creating a better life for their people. This "good example" can inspire other nations to demand similar improvements, potentially disrupting the US-led global system. This fear drives US intervention, even in seemingly insignificant countries like Laos and Grenada.

Chile as a Virus. The US concern over Chile under Allende stemmed from the fear that its social democratic government would "infect" the region, inspiring voters in countries like Italy to demand similar changes. This "rotten apple theory" justifies intervention to prevent the spread of social and economic development.

Guatemala's Agrarian Reform. When Guatemala's democratic government implemented agrarian reform and aided workers and peasants, it was seen as a threat to the stability of neighboring countries. The US responded by engineering a coup to protect the interests of the upper classes and large foreign enterprises, demonstrating its willingness to undermine democracy to maintain stability.

5. The Cold War Served as a Tool for Domestic Control

Each superpower controlled its primary enemy—its own population—by terrifying it with the (quite real) crimes of the other.

Mutual Justification. The Cold War was a tacit arrangement between the US and the Soviet Union, where each side used the other's crimes to justify repression and violence within their own domains. The US used the Soviet threat to compel its population to subsidize high-tech industry, while the Soviet Union used the US threat to maintain its authoritarian rule.

Dismissing Peaceful Resolutions. The US dismissed possibilities for peaceful resolution of the Cold War conflict, which would have left the "political threat" intact. The "political" threat of so-called "Communism" was the primary concern.

New Enemies. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US needed to invent new enemies to maintain domestic control. The "war on drugs" and the threat of drug traffickers from Latin America became substitutes for the disappearing Evil Empire, providing a cover for intervention and increased repression.

6. Media Serves the Interests of Wealth and Power

The media are only one part of a larger doctrinal system; other parts are journals of opinion, the schools and universities, academic scholarship and so on.

Corporate Ownership. The major media outlets are large corporations owned by even larger conglomerates, selling audiences to advertisers. This structure inherently biases the media's portrayal of the world, reflecting the interests and values of the sellers, buyers, and the product itself.

Cultural Managers. Editors and leading columnists share class interests and associations with state and business managers, further reinforcing the media's alignment with power. The flow of high-level people among corporations, government, and media ensures a consistent perspective.

Doctrinal System. The media are part of a larger doctrinal system that includes journals of opinion, schools, universities, and academic scholarship. This system aims to control both the "political class" (the educated 20%) and the "bewildered herd" (the remaining 80%), diverting the masses and reinforcing basic social values like passivity and submissiveness to authority.

7. The US Exports a Capitalist Model It Doesn't Follow Itself

We don’t accept it for ourselves—but for the Third World, we insist on it.

IMF System. The US insists on imposing a capitalist model on the Third World that it doesn't accept for itself. This involves liberalization, opening economies to foreign penetration, and cutting back on services to the general population. These measures benefit wealthy classes and foreign investors while reinforcing inequality.

Pentagon System. The US has historically relied on the Pentagon system to subsidize high-tech industry and maintain its economic power. This involves public funding for research and development and a state-guaranteed market for waste production, a system of public subsidy and private profit that is called free enterprise.

Protectionism for the Rich. While advocating free trade for others, the US has often employed protectionist measures to benefit its own industries. This hypocrisy is evident in the US government's actions to ram tobacco down the throats of consumers in other countries while simultaneously fighting the drug trade.

8. The Third World Pays the Price for Western Prosperity

In a global economy designed for the interests and needs of international corporations and finance, and sectors that serve them, most people become superfluous.

Exploitation of Resources. The global economy is designed to benefit international corporations and finance, often at the expense of the Third World. This involves exploiting resources, cheap labor, and markets in developing countries, leading to environmental destruction and social inequality.

Debt and Austerity. The IMF imposes "liberalization" on Third World countries in return for loans, leading to sharp cutbacks in services to the general population and increased poverty. This indebtedness and economic chaos ensure that the IMF rules will be followed, perpetuating a cycle of exploitation.

Human Cost. The human cost of this system is staggering, with millions of children dying every year from easily curable diseases and vast numbers of people living in poverty and misery. The silent genocide is a direct result of prioritizing profit over human needs.

9. The Illusion of Choice Masks Systemic Inequality

To make sense of political discourse, it’s necessary to give a running translation into English, decoding the doublespeak of the media, academic social scientists and the secular priesthood generally.

Doctrinal Meaning. Political discourse often has two meanings: the dictionary meaning and a doctrinal meaning that serves power. Terms like "democracy," "free enterprise," and "defense against aggression" are often used to mean the opposite of their literal definitions.

Special Interests. The term "special interest" is used to denigrate groups like women, labor, and the elderly, while corporations are never listed as such. This reflects the view that corporate interests are the "national interest," to which all must bow.

Doublespeak. The function of this doublespeak is to make it impossible to talk about matters of human significance in a coherent way, ensuring that little is understood about how society works and what is happening in the world. This contributes to a "democracy" in which the public is merely a spectator.

10. The Struggle for Freedom Requires Constant Resistance

The struggle for freedom is never over.

Internal Disruption. The people of the Third World need our sympathetic understanding and, much more than that, they need our help. We can provide them with a margin of survival by internal disruption in the United States.

Courage and Inspiration. The courage shown by those fighting for freedom in the Third World is a moving and inspiring experience. It reminds us of the importance of preserving our own independence and resisting oppression.

Ongoing Task. The task before us includes addressing the growing Third World at home, challenging illegitimate authority, and protecting the environment. While success is not guaranteed, the lack of effort will spell disaster.

Last updated: May 3, 2025