The Massive Global Implications of the America First Turn

By John Clarke. Toronto

I would argue that, next to the catastrophic climate impacts that are accumulating rapidly, the America First turn is the most decisive and devastating expression of the deep contradictions within global capitalism.

 

The system of US world leadership that emerged after WW2, was maintained and adapted during the years of economic boom, the neoliberal turn and the post 2008 instability. It was in effect during the Cold War, the 'unipolar' period of US rule after the Berlin Wall fell and the subsequent years in which it became ever clearer that 'the end of history' had been proclaimed too soon. 

 

Under conditions of declining US power, seven decades of 'Pax Americana' have now gone over to the volatile and massively unstable brand of gangster imperialism that the Trump administration is putting into effect. However, the failed effort to restore 'responsible' US leadership during the 'Biden restoration' indicates that the change of course that Trump personifies isn't simply the subjective choice of his administration. Carney was right to speak of a rupture and the end of the 'rules based' global order. The factors that drove the Trump turn are the limitations and contradictions of a weakening US imperialism and subsequent administrations won't escape them.

 

The period we are now entering into is one in which the still dominant US will use its remaining power without restraint. The horrors we are seeing in Latin America and the Middle East reflect an effort to restore hegemonic power that leads ultimately to a dreadful confrontation with China, the rising power and the key rival. 

 

Carney's 'middle powers' will now have to pay tribute to a far more demanding US, trying at the same time to strengthen their own military capacities and roles as global predators, while adopting class war measures against their working-class populations. The countries of the Global South face a new and terrible level of aggression and exploitation.

 

This is a uniquely unstable and dangerous period that is going to be marked by unprecedented levels of social conflict. Working-class struggle, global resistance and a clear anti-capitalist political orientation are the only viable responses and the only means for humanity to survive and move forward.