Disaster Capitalism
War Profiteerism
Naomi Kleins concepts of disaster capitalism has been evident across the globe in countries like Russia, Chile, Poland, and China, but more importantly, in disaster capitalisms country of origin, the United States of America. In her book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, Klein defines disaster capitalism as orchestrated raids on the public sphere in the wake of catastrophic events, combined with the treatment of disasters as exciting market opportunities (Klein 6). The concept centres around the ideology of Milton Friedman, who proclaimed that only a crisis, actual or perceived, produces real change. Friedman was a Nobel Prize winning economist who believed that the idea of a free market in a capitalist society would initially help us achieve absolute individual freedom. To exemplify, Klein uses the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe in her introduction as an example of how Chicago School ideologists like Milton Friedman use disaster capitalism to exploit a large scale shock or crisis. Klein argues that even an event as catastrophic as 9/11 can be used as shock treatment to help disorient and confuse the public and wage a profitable, privatized war like the War in Iraq. However, the radical change that has been implemented through this ideology has had significant effects on the public sphere within the United States, not to mention many other countries around the world. In order to understand the reasoning behind disaster capitalism, it is important to be aware of what former President Dwight Eisenhower called the military-industrial complex. In his farewell address to the nation, Eisenhower warned the public about the vast implications of the military-industrial complex. He stated, In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes (Eisenhower). Unfortunately, what Eisenhower feared has now become a reality. The military-industrial complex can be defined as a coalition consisting of the military and industrialists who profit by manufacturing arms and selling them to the government. It signifies a comfortable relationship between parties that are responsible for managing wars (the military, the presidential administration and congress) and companies that produce weapons and equipment for war (the industry). To put it simply, the MilitaryIndustrial Complex is a relationship that may develop between defence contractors and
government forces, where both sides receive what they are perceivably looking for: a successful military engagement for those planning the war and financial profit for the corporations involved. In other words, it is basically a war for profit theory. This idea of war for profit is nothing new as history certainly shows. It can be traced back centuries earlier where Empires were driven by arms races, especially those between the European powers of France, Spain and Britain, which are all basically more primitive versions of the military-industrial complex. The idea was that a country must build up and maintain a strong military in order to be considered a world power. Centuries ago, militaries like this were needed to protect themselves against the possible invasion of neighbouring countries. These days, it is ridiculous to consider an invasion against the United States of America. However, the U.S. is one of the only nations in the world that significantly relies on the military-industrial complex. It is without a doubt that the defence industry profits most when a country wages war overseas. The United States clearly doesnt take any risks when it comes to warfare, thus, they spend ridiculous amounts of money on their military. To sum up, war is definitely good business for the companies who invest in it, including manufacturing, servicing, production, etc. To the United States, a war based economy fuelled by the military-industrial complex is just as profitable as any other stable, growing economy, where tanks, planes and ammunition maintain superiority over the production of more traditional goods and products. To date, there are a large number of corporations that currently hold defence contracts with the United States government with the largest being Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Blackwater, Kellogg Brown & Root, and the Raytheon Company. Lockheed Martin holds the biggest contract totalling just over 5 billion U.S. dollars (Defense Contracts). Since Eisenhowers infamous farewell speech, the United States has invaded a vast number of countries including Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Grenada, Panama, Bosnia, and more recently, Iraq. Considering the influential concept of the military-industrial complex, it is important to bear in mind its relationship with the now more apparent disaster capitalism complex, as Klein describes it. Klein begins to describe the beginning of its structuring in the U.S. by focusing her attention mainly on political figures Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, and of course, George W. Bush. Klein defines the disaster capitalism complex as having much farther reaching tentacles than the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned against at the end of his presidency. It is global war fought on every level by private companies whose involvement is paid for with public money, with the unending mandate of protecting the United States homeland in perpetuity while eliminating all evil abroad (Klein 14). She explains how the Bush administration has outsourced the most sensitive and core functions of the government from providing healthcare to soldiers, interrogating prisoners, and gathering information on U.S. citizens. Not only that, but even the service
sector has begun reaping the benefits of the disaster capitalism complex. Maintaining the U.S. military is now one of the fastest-growing serviced economies in the world. Despite the horrifying realities of disaster capitalism, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Although this dispicable form of shock therapy has been proven effective against the American public, it is only temporary. The longer this War in Iraq continues, the more the American public is going to question its motives, as they are beginning to do so already. According to Klein, shock eventually wears off, and people will become well oriented and conscious. It is important for people to realize and understand what exactly is going on. People are already beginning to stop waiting for the government to come around and help, and they are instead taking the initiative as they should be doing. In times of crisis, we must question certain actions of the government, as well as take action. We must go back to our morals and values and focus on what is right, instead of what is considered to be profitable or economical.
