NM's blog

“Neither China nor Russia today offers an ideological alternative to the existing order. As capitalist, oligarchic, extractivist states, they are fully integrated into the postwar global economic architecture.” The writers forget the inherent contradictions in capitalism that determine cooperation and conflict. China, not Russia, represents an economic and technological threat to the Western capitalist expansion (share of markets, extraction of resources, capital accumulation, etc), which in turn affects the social and economic relations in Western societies (domestic social conflicts). The threat of China is enough to create conflict between states. No ideological alternative is required. The writers seem to ignore the economic relative decline the major Western countries have been experiencing (in productivity, living standard, infrastructure, growth…) and how that impacts on the states's imperialist policies. In search of new geopolitics Le Monde diplomatique , October 2026 Exce...

'US imperialism's policy for a multi-polar world' Related Dispelling the multipolar myth

Traders sell safety and violence

What is interesting in engaging with ChatGPT is not the answers themselves as the way it does generate them. My questions and comments are in red. _______________ “Human species, intractably divided on questions of value and definitions of the best regime.” How accurate is this? The quote —  “human species, intractably divided on questions of value and definitions of the best regime”  — is broadly accurate and reflects a deep tension in political philosophy, anthropology, and international relations. Here’s a breakdown of how and why this is accurate: Why it's accurate Historical Evidence Across history and cultures, humans have been deeply divided over: What constitutes justice (e.g., divine law vs. secular law). What makes a good society (e.g., hierarchy vs. equality, liberty vs. order). Who should rule (e.g., monarchy, aristocracy, democracy, technocracy). Competing Philosophical Traditions From  Plato and Aristotle  to  Rawls, Foucault, and Fanon , political...

Interaction with ChaGPT. My questions and comments are in red Is Conflict a Human Condition? Rethinking John Gray, Nassim Taleb, and Structural Causes of War — With Commentary User Question: What is the basic condition of the human species according to John Gray? John Gray: Conflict as a Human Condition John Gray, the British philosopher, argues that the basic condition of the human species is one of conflict and perpetual struggle . He suggests that violence, domination, and power-seeking are not deviations from human nature but deeply embedded in it . According to Gray: History is cyclical , not progressive. Human atrocities such as genocide, war, and oppression are recurring features. Civilization doesn't eradicate violence; it often amplifies it—by organizing it through nationalism, ideology, and bureaucracy. Enlightenment humanism (the idea that reason and progress can overcome human flaws) is a secular myth . Human psychology, tribalism, and evolutionary instincts make c...