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On Libya and liberal interventionism—Mike Marqusee
Mike Marqusee cuts through much of the liberal confusion over Libya, and explains why such 'liberal' interventions cannot be seen in separation from the economic and geopolitical interests of the countries carrying them out:
No one proposed a No Fly Zone when Israeli aircraft were pummelling Gaza. Nor did they when the Sri Lankan government killed some 20,000 civilians in its final assault on the LTTE. In Burma condemnation has never been matched by the merest hint of military action, while millions have perished in a war in the Congo financed and armed by western corporations Had the Egyptian army jumped the other way and repressed the uprising, would western powers have treated them as they"re treating the Gaddafi regime? Not a chance. And then there's the flip-flop over Gaddafi himself, from pariah to partner and back again in record time.
"So what?" some will respond. If the western powers are hypocritical and selective, that doesn't mean that in this instance they're wrong. Our guilt elsewhere is not an excuse for failing to protect the innocent in Libya. We cannot cure our governments' double standards with double standards of our own.
But what are these "double-standards of our own"? We don't demand the invasion of Burma or the bombing of Tel Aviv and no one called for NFZs over the townships during the apartheid years. We want an end to western support for repressive regimes everywhere, we stand in solidarity with democratic struggles, but our solidarity is not expressed at the tip of a Cruise missile.
The critical point about the hypocrisy, double-standards and selectivity is that they unveil the real motive forces driving the intervention. And motives here are anything but incidental factors; they guide and shape the intervention and therefore tell us a great deal about its likely impact ...
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The Harvard Crimson delivers more praise for Perec's use of form and content
Yet another stellar review for The Art of Asking Your Boss for a Raise. In a March 29 review, James McAuley of the Harvard Crimson extols Georges Perec for his legendarily playful use of language and thematic expression.
Elusive French writer Georges Perec may have died in 1982, but thanks to the recent reissue of an oft-forgotten literary experiment from his later years, his humor and his cunning live again. Published in book form for the first time and translated into English by Perec's biographer, Princeton's David Bellos, Perec's delightfully odd The Art of Asking Your Boss for a Raise paints a playful portrait of the neurotic corporate mind as it attempts to construct a logical template for financial success and-in a more abstract sense-human recognition.
Visit the Harvard Crimson to read the review in full.
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Verso's New York office is hiring a Publicist
The New York office of Verso Books is seeking an imaginative and energetic publicist to work with the Marketing Manager to promote Verso's list across North America to its fullest potential.
The candidate will work closely with the Marketing Manager to both publicize and market a portion of Verso's list, liaising directly with authors and the media, setting up events, contributing daily to the Verso Blog, and cooperating with colleagues in our London office.
A critical understanding of the US media landscape, from news, features and comment to radio and television, is essential. Familiarity with Verso's list, along with an understanding of the political and intellectual project that motivates it, will be key to helping us find new readers. Ideally, the successful candidate will have a demonstrable flair for creative forms of outreach, be able to confidently pitch ideas to the press, and dream up vibrant political and literary events.
This is a full time position in our Brooklyn office, and includes health, dental and 401k benefits. Please send applications to Clara Heyworth by April 8th, 2011.
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"Police Stand By As Colleagues in Plain Clothes Break Windows"
At 5.54 of this BBC footage, an 'anarchist' shows his pass to police and moves through the lines.
We are already seeing the first indications that plain clothes officers were moving between the violent protesters and the police at Saturday's demonstration. The police have infiltrated anarchist and revolutionary communist groups for decades.
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Paul Mason and Richard Seymour on March/Occupy/Other for the Alternative
One of our favourite sights on the demo was this sensible man sporting the headgear of the revolution ...