Music/Society Modern Wrld (W4)
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Post-ColdWarAnti-CapitalismandMusic.pptxPost-Cold War Anti-Capitalist Movements and Music
Cold War Era (1947-1991)
(Capitalism/Democracy) vs. (Socialism/Communism)
USA, Western Europe mostly vs. USSR, China, Cuba, N. Korea, others
Starts after WWII (in 1947) with the Truman Doctrine (contain the expansion of (Soviet) Communism)
Ends, in 1991, with fall of Berlin Wall and dissolve of USSR
US and USSR never fought directly but had a series of proxy wars, battles through others; examples: Korean War, Vietnam War, Bay of Pigs (Cuba), Latin America (i.e., Nicaragua – Sandinistas; Guatemala Civil War, etc.), Africa (CIA role in assassination of Patrice Lumumba (DRC) and overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana)
Communism v. Socialism
Socialism – economic system – a democratic state controls the means of production (rather than private companies) for the benefit of all; the productivity of labor is shared by all equally
Communism – econ/political system; complete collective ownership of everything; abolition of private property; ultimate goal: society without a state, class, or money (society governed by collection of small soviets – communes)
Video (recap of Socialism v. Communism)
In the history of the world there has never been a pure capitalist or pure communist or pure socialist system set up, but a mix of all – with various sides balanced differently at various times
While USSR and China claim to be communist, they are not (in the Marxist sense); Marx did not want totalitarianism; Socialism was seen, by Marx, as a precursor step to communism; but China, USSR, and others have corrupted Marxist ideas/ideals
The US is partly socialist; examples: social security, public schools, public roads, fire dept., Medicare, Medicade, public parks, etc.
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Neoliberalism (Capitalism)
It is a set of economic policies that refer back to the 18th century, liberal (free) market ideas of…
Adam Smith – Free market, laissez-faire (Wealth of Nations, 1776)
Let the “invisible hand” of the free market guide the economy
Includes:
No (or little): government intervention or regulation, taxes, monetary intervention, environmental protections, health and safety protections
Reliance on ‘private sector’; diminish labor unions; promotes private ownership of everything
Emphasis on personal responsibility; often denial of systemic inequality, insisting that there is a level playing field for all, regardless of history of oppression (by race, gender, class, etc.)
Every person for themselves; there is ‘no society, only individuals’ ‘there are no alternatives (to capitalism)’ (Margaret Thatcher)
In short, neoliberalism is capitalism in its ‘purest’ form (deregulated)
Starts in the 1970s as a response to 1960s labor/leftist social movements
It has generally increased economic inequality (the rich get richer; the poor stay poor, or only increase wealth minimally as compared to the wealthy)
Policies most forcefully put in place by Nixon, Reagan, Bush, and Thatcher, but Democrats also had a hand in implementing these policies
Mao dies in 1976 – leads to more neoliberal practices in China
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Global Inequality
World’s richest 1% (>$1mil) own 45% of wealth
26 billionaires have as much wealth as bottom 50% (3.5 billion)
Source: 2019 (Oxfam)
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Political philosophy – rejects all forms of involuntary and coercive hierarchy
Calls for the abolition of the State (national government)
Associated with punk culture of the 1970s
Examples: Sex Pistols “Anarchy in the U.K.” ; Anarchy playlist
Generally – anti-war, anti-capitalist, feminist, anti-globalization, anti-authoritarian, (typically left wing);
Recently associated with Black Bloc protesters: disrupters, wear all black and face masks to protect identity; often target (destroy, damage) capitalist structures and symbols
Why Do Some Protest the WTO, IMF, and World Bank?
WTO – World Trade Organization; began 1995, 164 member states; mission: reduce barriers to free trade (i.e., tariffs) [generally promotes neoliberal policies and practices]
Critics claim that it has fueled global economic inequalities
Often allows rich countries to maintain agricultural subsidies, lowering prices of their goods, giving them a competitive advantage over poorer nations, which often hurts their economies
IMF – International Monetary Fund: founded 1945, 189 member nations
Mission: Promote international monetary co-operation, facilitate international trade, foster sustainable economic growth, make resources available to members experiencing balance of payments difficulties
Criticisms – advantages richer nations; disadvantages economically poorer nations; terms of loans are often harsh and reinforce inequalities; promotes neoliberal policies, i.e., privatization
Seun Kuti “IMF” ft. M1 – critiques org from Nigerian perspective
Why Do Some Protest the World Bank and NAFTA?
World Bank – founded in 1944; 189 current member states; Headquarters in Washington, DC
Function – provides loans to ‘poor’ countries for capital projects
Criticisms – promotes neoliberal policies that perpetuate economic inequalities
Example ‘structural adjustment’ in Africa – loans put countries further in debt; terms often insisted that African countries buy Western products and abolish their agricultural subsidies, and Africa only used for raw materials (not allowed to develop manufacturing) (as it had been for centuries) – some refer to this as neocolonialism; Ghana example
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) - trade treaty between US, Mexico, and Canada, signed 1994;
While NAFTA has produced some economic benefit for each country, it has also had its detractors (protesters)
Criticisms – led to some American job loss, i.e., car plants moving to Mexico (outsourcing) [but that was happening before NAFTA]
Depression of US wages, US labor forced to compete with low-wage Mexican workers
See further, article
Rage Against the Machine “Wind Below” – anti-NAFTA, anti-capitalist, anti-corporatist
Radiohaed – “Electioneering”
Rage Against the Machine – “Wind Below”
Propagandhi
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The Battle of Seattle, 1999
Part of anti-globalization movement – what is globalization? And why are some opposed to it?
(Economic) Globalization – expansion of corporations, expansion of capitalism, expansion of free trade; reduce barriers to trade (tariffs, etc.)
Critique of globalization:
free trade is not necessarily (and often not) fair trade;
labor standards often reduced overall
Advantage rich countries; continue to marginalize ‘poor’ nations and people
Seattle 1999: Video Link (~15 mins)
Music referring to 1999 protests:
Ani DiFranco “Serpentine”
System of a Down “Deer Dance”
The Nightwatchman (Tom Morello, RATM) “Union Song”
