Face of Imperialism: Responsibility-Taking in the Political World

I will be brief. At this point, there are five other five-star reviews with which I entirely agree. I only wish to add that this is a book that, for its concision and accuracy regarding matters of vital importance to citizens of the world, deserves to be translated into as many languages, and to be disseminated and read, by as many as possible as soon as possible. The American empire has become a juggernaut of planetary coercion and brutality. If it is ever to be contained, people must be able first and foremost to see and think their way through the torrents, the walls, of American propaganda and mythology, and this book cuts away the mortar of those walls. Buy several copies and give them as gifts.

This book is another wonderful exercise in rational thinking by Michael Parenti. The Imperialism he writes about is NOT the old fashioned type, where a country is conquered and plundered, then becomes a satellite of the conquering nation. This is the Imperialism that governments practice by supporting immoral regimes that favor the business interests of their country, be it oil. bananas, or automobiles. Our country's business interests become more important than our ideals. America (and other countries) have supported dictatorships and murderous regimes that are friendly to businesses and investors. Many of us have been distraught by our governments past immoral choices. (Pinochet, anybody?)Mr. Parenti does extensive research and writes clearly and incisively. You may occasionally disagree with him, but his writing will open your mind to seeing the issues in a fresh way. We all need to question our long held beliefs, and Mr. Parenti is excellent at making us delve into and question them.This book is a fast and insightful read for all of you who are interested in the political and the moral ramifications of our government's interaction with countries of our world.

Parenti presents the radical critique of capitalism and American foreign policy in accessible prose. The outlines of the left's arguments are presented with sufficient supporting evidence to suggest the validity of the case. Moreover, Parenti offers some real insight. In particular, I found useful his comment that the stakes in regard to globalization are not national sovereignty but democratic sovereignty. His formulation clears away a lot of obfuscating debate over the viability of the nation-state in the face of globalization. It turns out not to matter that much, in light of the wider concerns with the brutal conditions needed to sustain capital accumulation in today's world.

In order for the Imperial U.S. to thrive it needs to exploit its subjects domestically and abroad a major component of this exploitation is the military as so very well stated in chapter 2 The Omnipresent Arsenal from pages13-22, the tenacious reach of the Imperial U.S. is vividly stated in chapter 6 Globalization for the Few from pages 59-72. This book is further proof that the 1% is choking the world to death, the key question is what are we the 99% going to do about this.

The book is very incisive and covers some of the issues of American foreign policy, especially those that the media rarely covers. If you have read a lot of Parenti before this it may be a little repetitive but it provides updates and speaks to the fact that Obama's foreign and domestic policy has been a whole lot of more of the same. If you have not read any Parenti, this is a quick read and a good start, although Contrary Notions is probably more thorough.

I am reading this book for a political sociology class and it is such a great read. I am hooked and it's rare than happens with school assigned books. I now have a much different view on the United States through this book. Eye opening and good reference points with an extensive vocabulary. Fantastic and well written book. Highly Recommend, not to mention I'm not even a book reader. Great author who speaks the truth!

The best book on US imperialism I’ve read. Parenti is a rigorous scholar and an impassioned voice calling for basic human decency. He is an unabashed leftist, but no matter your political leanings this book will help you tear through the lies, purposeful omissions, and equivocations of the corporate media

I used this in teaching an undergraduate Global Sociology course. Excellent critical review of imperialism. Defines imperialism, explains why imperialism goes unquestioned, provides a history of US imperialism, provides evidence of the consequences of imperialism, and discusses avenues for social change. Well documented and researched. Very accessible and easy to read. He does not get bogged down with academic jargon.

I have only just got his book but quickly see it is a hard hitting "mainstream" account of the state of affairs which is woefully short of the true depth of deception. For the real account of the world; see Christopher Bollyn re 911. re WW1 see, Hidden history, Docherty and MacGregor, re WW2 see Gerard Menuhin. For the lie about the being a sphere hurtling through space see Edward Hendrie, 2016. For truth about western origins of communism see Antony Sutton and Eustace Mullins. For truth about deep state see Texe Marrs. For lies about evolution and the geology of the earth see Roger Gallop. I find the truth in the KJV Bible. It explains who rules this world, namely satan. He is the prince of the power of the air. The US spends over $600bn a year on the military. Recently they agreed, against UN strategy, with Israel to create a one state solution to peace. This looks like end time Bible prophecy!

ALL of Micheal Parenti's books are excellent.

Once again Parenti delivers. With his usual incisive, lucid analysis and deceptively simple style the author penetrates and explodes many a myth and misunderstanding regarding 'empire' and 'imperialism'. In a better world this slim volume would be required curriculum reading for all high school seniors. Yet another critical key to understanding the world as it is, in hopes of one producing a world as it should be.

Un bon résumé des analyses de Parenti. Ouvrage synthétique qui fonctionne comme un pamphlet plutôt que comme une analyse détaillée et rigoureuse. Cela n'enlève rien à la pertinence et à la vérité du propos.