Thursday, August 10, 2017

Lee Fang — Sphere of Influence: How American Libertarians Are Remaking Latin American Politics

The libertarian network, which has reshaped political power in country after country, has also operated as a quiet extension of U.S. foreign policy, with Atlas-associated think tanks receiving quiet funding from the State Department and the National Endowment for Democracy, a critical arm of American soft power.
Though recent investigations have shed light on the role of powerful conservative billionaires, such as the Koch brothers, in developing a business-friendly version of libertarian thought, the Atlas Network, which receives funding from Koch foundations, has recreated methods honed in the Western world for developing countries.
The network is expansive, currently boasting loose partnerships with 450 think tanks around the world. Atlas says it dispensed over $5 million to its partners in 2016 alone.
Over the years, Atlas and its affiliated charitable foundations have provided hundreds of grants to conservative and free-market think tanks in Latin America,…

Must-read. It's in-depth and therefore longish, so save it for the weekend if you don't have time to get to it now.

The Intercept
Sphere of Influence: How American Libertarians Are Remaking Latin American Politics
Lee Fang

It's is becoming pretty clear that a right-left divide is emerging in the capitalist world that will ultimately lead to irreconcilable differences that will end either in socialism or transnational corporate totalitarianism prevailing. Presently, transnational corporate totalitarianism is taking the lead and pulling ahead as the market state eclipses the welfare state. 

3 comments:

Matt Franko said...

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse down there...

Anonymous said...

The puppet masters are 'up there' so I would be worrying just as much about home ... keep in mind the real human struggle is for identity.

Anonymous said...

... i.e. the global 'human struggle' pushes all other struggles (political, economic) before it, like a tsunami wave. Why predictions are so unpredictable. 'Those who don't know the self, struggle with themselves'.