On September 11, 1991, George H. W. Bush outlined the main tenets of a so-called New World Order (NWO) (Bush Sr. 1991). He did this shortly before ‘Operation Desert Storm’ commenced. After 40 years of Cold War and with Communism in its last convulsions the idea of a different, more peaceful, world, without the constant threat of nuclear holocaust or material scarcity, held much sway in international politics.
In order to properly account for the rise of such a vision, this essay uses the frames of ‘vindicationism’, developed by Jonathan Monten (2005) and ‘passive revolution’, developed by Antonio Gramsci. Two parts guide the discussion: 1) ‘Rise and Manifestation’; and 2) ‘Opposition and Entrenchment’. Subsections about the theoretical and cultural heritage of the NWO, as well as its introduction into the material world further point the way. It will emerge that the NWO is a US driven global initiative, based on cultural perception and logic of market expansion. With the help of the Chilean coup d’état in 1973, the concepts will be applied to a real world example and show how theory becomes practice. Chile 1973 was a key event that fostered the rise of a vision of New World Order, for it marked the beginning of applying theoretical concepts, developed especially by Chicago School economics, into the physical world. Those concepts thus still mark capitalist modernity. This section also paves the way for Part II. Contrary to observers who view power and the world in militaristic terms, this section argues that a vision of New World Order never fell. To underline this claim, examples such as al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks and China’s economic development are evaluated. During this exercise, it emerges that although both actors are seen as challenges to the US-centred world order, they are actually, in the case of al-Qaeda deviant, parts of it. The last section therefore concludes that the NWO is not new and firmly embedded in the structures of the global political economy.
Table of Contents
Part I: Rise and Manifestation
Driving the NWO: the market and vindicationism
Passive Revolution in Chile and the NWO
Part II: Opposition and Entrenchment
Objectives and Topics
This essay aims to analyze the emergence, persistence, and adaptation of the "New World Order" (NWO) as a US-driven global initiative. By applying the theoretical frameworks of 'vindicationism' and 'passive revolution', the study seeks to challenge the notion that this order has collapsed, arguing instead that it remains deeply embedded in the global political economy through market expansion and institutional influence.
- The theoretical underpinnings of the New World Order
- The role of the Chilean coup d’état (1973) as a case study for passive revolution
- The integration of neoliberal policies into global institutional frameworks
- Evaluation of perceived threats, such as al-Qaeda and China’s economic development
- The continuity of US foreign policy objectives across different administrations
Excerpt from the Book
Passive Revolution in Chile and the NWO
Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci reinvented the theory of passive revolution. The concept historicizes specific constellations of capitalist development within social relations. These constellations lock the ‘new’ into continuous struggle with the ‘old’ and create inner contradictions (Morton 2010:316), or a dialectic.
Ruling elites employ such revolution to address grievances of subaltern classes to win their consent and form a capitalist state (Morton 2010:318). Gramsci (1971:2138) contends that employers who take an interest in the lifestyle of their employees, and who crush labour resistance not only by force but also by ideological manipulation and selectively granted higher wages, are visible examples of a passive revolution. This way capitalism becomes cultural practice, as society makes sense of its existence largely through the prism of profit creation (time management; competition for jobs, loans etc.). The permeation of culture with the profit motive is largely driven by state as well as corporate agency (Morton 2010:318). Most importantly, such processes might derive their impetus from a space exterior to the respective society, to be then, somewhat unconsciously, reproduced within that society (Morton 2010:318). As such, an external actor, commanding vast resources of power, like the US, gains considerable influence in the making of foreign society and states. Contrary to Morton (2010:325), passive revolution and hegemony are not mutually exclusive, since the former is vital for actors to attain a superior position in the international system, as well as the global political economy, vis-à-vis other actors. The coup d’état in Chile is a case in point, and also marks the beginning of the NWO’s continuum.
Summary of Chapters
Part I: Rise and Manifestation: This chapter defines the NWO as a US foreign policy initiative based on liberal values and market expansion, using the 1973 Chilean coup as a practical demonstration of 'passive revolution' and neoliberal restructuring.
Part II: Opposition and Entrenchment: This chapter examines how the NWO persisted despite challenges, arguing that the US successfully utilized multilateralism and economic integration to maintain its influence, rendering threats like al-Qaeda and China less disruptive to the existing order than commonly perceived.
Keywords
New World Order, Vindicationism, Passive Revolution, Neoliberalism, US Foreign Policy, Capitalist Modernity, Hegemony, Washington Consensus, International Financial Institutions, Global Political Economy, Economic Restructuring, Cold War, Chile 1973, Market Circulation, Democratic Enlargement
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research?
The research fundamentally addresses the persistence of the "New World Order" (NWO) as a US-centric project that survives beyond the Cold War, maintaining its influence through economic and political structures rather than mere military power.
Which central themes are explored in this work?
Central themes include the intersection of market economics and foreign policy, the mechanism of passive revolution as a tool for political change, and the role of US-led institutions in shaping global governance.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to demonstrate that the vision of a New World Order has not failed; instead, it has adapted to new global conditions and remains a foundational element of contemporary international relations.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author utilizes a political-economic analysis grounded in critical theory, specifically employing Jonathan Monten’s 'vindicationism' and Antonio Gramscian concepts of 'passive revolution' to interpret geopolitical events.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the ideological origins of the NWO, the implementation of neoliberalism in Chile, the evolution of US policy from Reagan to Obama, and a critique of perceived challenges to American dominance, such as al-Qaeda and the rise of China.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include New World Order, Vindicationism, Passive Revolution, Neoliberalism, US Foreign Policy, and Global Political Economy.
How does the author interpret the 1973 Chilean coup in this context?
The coup is interpreted as a classic example of 'passive revolution', where domestic elites and foreign agents collaborated to restructure the state and economy in line with neoliberal and US interests.
Why does the author argue that al-Qaeda is not a fundamental threat to the NWO?
The author argues that al-Qaeda’s rise occurred within the parameters of existing Cold War and capitalist structures; thus, while the group was deviant and violent, it did not challenge the underlying foundations of the global system.
Does the author see China's economic growth as a threat to US power?
No, the author contends that China is deeply integrated into the US-led liberal institutional framework and that the entanglement of both economies makes conflict counterproductive and unlikely.
- Quote paper
- Christian Scheinpflug (Author), 2013, The rise and ‘fall’ of the vision of a post-Cold War New World Order, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/268137
