ThaUnseen.com

 pt. 1

pt. 2

pt. 3

On July 1944, US and its allies gathered at Bretton Woods to establish a new world economic order, stabilize the international trade, global monetary system, and ensure that Great Depression won’t repeat itself (Baylis, 244). The formation of the three institutions, International Monetary Fund, United Nations, and World Trade Organization become the primary regulators of international economic activity. World Bank was formed to aid the reconstruction of Europe and subsidize developing countries (Baylis, 244). Soviet Union attended the Bretton Woods conference yet withheld its authorization to ratify the agreement, simultaneously neglecting its own interests and allowing US to spread capitalism across the West and further weakening communism (Fargher, 782). Significantly however, Soviet Union omitted its own people and allies from the benefits of the new economic order and debilitated its economic relationships with the rest of the world.
The Soviet Union collapsed due to its inability to keep up with the United State’s prevailing economy. The collapse resulted in Russia’s irresponsibility in allocation of its scarce resources. The Soviet Union’s dictated economy failed to produce enough to meet societies’ basic needs. Additionally, Russian leaders exhausted the majority of their resources in producing weapons of mass destruction, simultaneously neglecting Russian people and forcing them into poverty and starvation (Kenez, 243). Consequentially, USSR lost the arms race and caused a major break down in its political, cultural and economic system.
The advantages in the collapse of the Soviet Union came gradually for the whole world. Eastern Europe welcomed capitalism. Certainly, United States was prospering and taking advantage of the new markets. In 1992 during the Clinton Administration, America was thriving. The unemployment rate fell below 4 % (natural rate of unemployment is always 5% to 6%), gross domestic product rose significantly, and millions of jobs were created (Faragher, 966). Even international relations with Russia began to improve significantly. Nevertheless, United States continued to maintain its hegemonic status in international system. Its influence however, was steadily belittled due to the persistence of globalization and integration of world economies.
As globalization began to flourish in the 1970’s, legitimacy of John M. Keynes’s theories were deteriorating and United States economy was falling into stagflation. Government was losing control of economic activity such as trade, investment, flow of capital, and interests of international corporations. On November 7th 2008, a leading automobile manufacture in United States stroke business with the former enemy by opening a new plant in St. Petersburg, Russia. The investment helped decrease unemployment rate in St. Petersburg and strengthened economic ties with the West (Keating). Importantly, the integration pressured former rivals to amend their foreign policies to prevent future conflicts that may interfere with economic interests of international corporations. In this case the relationship between Russia and US was further strengthened through mutual economic interests. However, usually economic integration hurt country’s foreign interests.
In 2003 fifty-seven corporations were fined for trading with official enemies of United States (The Corporation). Any individual accused of association with the enemy may be taking into custody and thrown into prison to rot with out any formal charges. However, corporations only risk a slap on the wrist. In fact, General Electrics was recently slapped on the wrist by the media for violation of “spirit of the law” by doing business with Iran. “It is my opinion, it is the policy of the Iranian government, approved to highest level of that government, to facilitate the killing of Americans in Iraq…” declared former CIA director Michael Hayden in concern of GE’s business investment in Iran. GE Corporation aided Iran’s economic development, while Iran manufactured and exported bombs to fight American troops in Iraq War (Videocafeblog). In this case, GM Corporation put United States national security at risk.
Unlike domestic economy that can be easily manipulated through fiscal policy, in the international sate of anarchy globalization allows market forces operate naturally. As classic economist Friedrich Hayek argued in his book Road to Serfdom, market forces are impersonal, therefore, it’s senseless to antagonize them and call them “unjust.” Market’s job is to draw in labor and capitol to the most efficient regions and individuals. Hence, inefficient allocation of resources through government intervention and collectivism is indeed a road to serfdom. Although, corporations create an overwhelming amount of negative externalities for the society they also generate huge market for labor and contribute to the overall growth of economy. Regardless, Hayek’s theory can’t be taken as absolute truth and neither can Keynes (Commanding Heights).
Argument made in favor of globalization states that globalization, which is a result of a rapid technological improvement, creates a civil, unified, international society. Counterargument suggests that globalization has a negative affect on international order. For instance, transnational crime and terrorist network have the ability to spread their ideology rapidly and efficiently, simultaneously reaching a large pool of audience (Baylis, 298). Therefore, in the meantime powerful countries are working on strengthening institutions that could manage and prevent future economic and political crisis through a development of international regimes and institutions. Every state in the international system is a member of at least one trade organization; nonetheless, many states worry that the organizations are neglecting weak states and instead serve powerful countries. The result of this integration is multi-layered governance (Baylis, 301).
Regardless of what some critics suggest, globalization is particularly beneficial to weak states because they have a greater chance of making large profits by exploiting their natural resources. Nation’s state of economy will never be independent of the international political system. Simply due the components of Gross Domestic Product, which includes consumption, government spending, investment, and net exports. Net exports and investment are the most important components of this formula, because they tie state economy into international economy. Therefore, one’s state’s crisis becomes an international crisis and one countries collapse is even a grader fall for the most powerful states in the international economy and not to mention the developing part of the world that suffers painfully the most of economic trauma. However, the responsibility to bail out nations falls primarily on the industrialized countries such as United States. Bailing out neighbors becomes in the interest of nations that produce the most. For instance, current fiscal crisis that began eroding since 2007 has damaged economies in virtually every state in the international system. Including industrialized parts of the world that are suffering just as much if not more as US. US economy has stagnated and continues to pull other nations into recession. Nonetheless, our kind neighbor China that is currently suffering a high rate of unemployment relentlessly continues to find money to throw our way, surely we must have some interests in common.
Regimes are another factor in globalization. During the 20th century regimes governed activity and rules with in the international system. Institutions that regulate international relations are coordinated through regimes, specific rules, and guidance. Regimes could be described as something as simple as sending a check to a relative in another country with out worrying it won’t get to them (Baylis, 298). The goal of regime is to create order, stability and welfare in the overall international community. After WWII regimes became a vital component of growing prosperity in the West. Some political scientists insist that it’s vital for United States to maintain its superpower to sustain regimes. Others argue that if US lost its powers than third world countries will dominate regimes. Ever since the collapse of Soviet Union, US has grown in power and established many of its own regimes; however, many critics suggest that US has become increasingly inconsiderate of other necessary regimes unless its in US interests. Regardless, regimes ease the process of globalization and maintain order and stability in the international community.

Work Cited
Baylis, Smith and Patricia Ownes. The Globalization of World Plotics. 4th ed. New York:
2008.
Faragher, M. John. Out of Many: A History of the American People. Volume 2.
Keating, Joshua. “The List: Globolized Motors.” Foreign Policy. April 5th 2009.

Kenez, Peter. A History of the Soviet Union from the Beginning to the End. 2nd ed. New York:
1999.
The Corporation. Mark Achbar, Jenifer Abbott, & Joel Bakan. Big Picture Media Corporation,
2009.
Commanding Heights. Michael Sillivan. PBS.
Videocafeblog. Bill O’Reilly on GE Doing Business with Iran. May 22, 2008. Youtube.
Video file. 22 April 2009.

The Corporation is the film that every individual should see!

Commanding Heights is a really interesting documentary on history of world economy. Keynesian economics (active government policy) vs free-market capitalism (passive government policy). John M Keynes vs Friedrich Hayek.

And this is what stagflation looks like on a graph.

The AD-AS or Aggregate Demand-Aggregate Supply model is a macroeconomic model that explains price level and output through the relationship of aggregate demand and aggregate supply. It was first put forth by John Maynard Keynes in his work The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money.

And below are the basics:

ASlr (aggregate supply in the long run) - represents the economy in full potential employment, which = Natural Unemployment of 5% to 6% (that is when only frictional and structural unemployment is in effect)

AS - aggregate supply in the short run
AD - aggregate demand

AS, AD and ASlr have to remain in equilibrium (crossed) for economy to maintain it’s full employment and producing it’s potential Real Gross Domestic Product.

This graph can depict stagflation, inflation, depression, recession and other economic fluctuations.

more details on this awesomeness, you can visit this website Spark Notes

than you might have a point…

A.V Club blogs on Bill Mahers’ film Religulous .

In Religulous, Bill Maher takes a brief breather from snidely dismissing all faith, everywhere, to acknowledge that faithlessness is a luxury. If you’re a multi-millionaire with your own television show, and a blowjob from Karrine Steffans is always just a phone call away, it’s easy to dismiss religion as the opiate of the masses, a bunch of superstitious hogwash for the gullible and ignorant. But if you’re a soldier, a prisoner, or an addict, belief in a forgiving, all-powerful, all-loving deity begins to look like an essential rather than a luxury.

Interesting indeed.

COLD WAR

The origins of Cold War are widely debated among historians and political scientists. The ideological tensions between United States and Soviet Union began immediately after the October Revolution in 1917, led by the vanguard of prolatarians Bolshevik Party (Baradat 206). Captained by Vladimir Lenin, Bolsheviks eradicated the Tsarist autocracy and replaced the morbid regime with a Communist system and a socialist planned economy. As the Soviet Union grew in power, Communist ideology was rapidly spreading across the globe. Aware of the Communist domino effect, the United States began to prepare for the anticipated WWIII (Kenez 160).
The re-construction of the global power distribution into bi-polar configuration following WWII was highly anticipated. WWII annihilated many powers in Europe and left them in economic and political disparity (Baylis). Pouring their remaining resources into rebuilding their former powers, many European states were no longer concerned with military and defense. The Soviet Union however, had other plans. With its newly occupied territories, USSR needed a strong defense system to protect, maintain and dominate the world. European countries had no choice but to unify under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and reach out to the West for security. Recognizing the new responsibility and its clear opposition, the United States entered a nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union (Baylis 77).
The fundamental transition from multi-polar system to bipolar system was the accumulation of Nuclear Weapons. It would have been virtually impossible to describe the world as the bipolar power distribution without USA and USSR military capacities. Paradoxically, nuclear weapons were the greatest impediment from the break out of WWIII. Weapons of mass destruction equalized power between the two states; however, neither Washington nor Moscow could determine the possible destruction of nuclear attack and the appropriate number in accumulation of nuclear weapons (Baylis 79). Nevertheless, many historians argue that weapons of mass destruction had very little impact in balance of power. If another small country could enter the arms race then theoretically the power would shift from bipolar back to multi-polar system. Therefore, economic conditions were the prime balance of power after WWII due to USA and USSR ability to produce weapons on the greater scale than any other country in the world. And therefore, they also had the power to bring the whole world to its knees.
The unimaginable happened. The Soviet Union collapsed due to its inability to keep up with the United State’s economy causing a transition from bipolar distribution of power to unipolar. United States was left standing alone. The collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in Russia’s irresponsibility in allocation of its scarce resources. The Soviet Union’s dictated economy failed to produce enough to meet societies’ basic needs. Additionally, Russian leaders exhausted the majority of their resources in producing nuclear weapons, simultaneously neglecting Russian people and forcing them into poverty and starvation (Kenez 243). Consequentially, the USSR lost the arms race and caused a major break down in its political, cultural and economic system. The prices skyrocketed; the demand for products became higher than supply. People stood in lines for hours for all sorts of products such as bread, meat, alcohol and even matches, often reaching the front of the line to realize the product is sold out. The use of alcohol, drugs, suicides, homelessness, and abject depression heightened significantly.
The advantages in the collapse of the Soviet Union came gradually. A new Soviet leader, General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev attempted to introduce several painful reform policies such as perestroika (reform), and an economic transition from planned economy to free market economy; Perestroika helped stabilize Russia’s economic conditions in the long run (Kenez 248). Democracy was attempted and freedom of speech, freedom of the press (until Putin years) was introduced. Regardless, the economic conditions continued to deteriorate and people began to utilize their new freedoms to criticize Gorbachev for the failure to rebuild the economy. For a brief period the government attempted to turn back society to a Communist Republic but people retaliated with strong opposition. Humiliated Gorbachev resigned and passed down his baton to the first democratically elected President Boris Yeltsin (Kenez 279).
In 1991 the Soviet Union became Russian Federation, an independent state and along came the liberators. With the aid of Clinton Administration, Yeltsin declared the extension of the painful economic transition to a free market economy, other wise known as “shock-therapy.” By introducing several western policies: liberalization, stabilization, and privatization the shock therapy took its toll when industries shut down and prices and unemployment rose significantly (Kenez 279-283). Indeed, the public felt like it was treated like lab rats. The oligarchs emerged and robed people of their last savings. A famous Russian comedian, Yevgeniy Petrosyan later mocked democracy calling it dermocracy (shitocracy).
Growing up during the 90’s in Russia we learned to cope with economic hardships. The outrageous market prices forced us to produce our own bread and cultivate our own vegetables. Many of my friends and I collected beer bottles in exchange for some money, we made quite a business for ourselves. My parent’s paychecks were constantly held back for months but often employees wouldn’t receive payment at all. The first capitalist market activity I noticed was the privatized grocery store that opened up on our block. It was overwhelmingly Americanized, supplied with goods at prices Russians had never seen in their life. The first McDonalds’ in Moscow became a luxury restaurant for some wealthy Russians, offering burgers at a cost of half of my paycheck. College majors such as economics and business became very popular. Even vacationing abroad was no longer an act of treason.
It took over ten years for a capitalist economy to finally stabilize but democracy couldn’t stand a chance in the former Soviet Union. Many critics often wonder why Russians so willingly accept tyranny and oppression. But there’s just no simple answer to this criticism, people’s mentality had become so chronically subjugated, frightened and hopeless, it will take another Revolution for the nation to come back to life.

Work Cited
Baradat, P. Leon. Political Ideologies: Their Origins and Impact. 10th ed. New Jersey: 2009.
Baylis, Smith and Patricia Ownes. The Globalization of World Plotics. 4th ed. New York:
2008.
Kenez, Peter. A History of the Soviet Union fro the Beginning to the End. 2nd ed. New York:
1999.

1. DJ AM - Adam Goldstein - djam

I can’t even begin to describe how stocked I get when I hear Adam Goldstein work, lets just say he earned a permanent spot on my top DJs list. This DJ will go down in history. If the video below doesn’t get you excited as much as it excites me than I need to get laid. hahah.

2. DJ Echo aka Brent Bartel - djbrentbartel

Brent Bartel is a kind if a big deal here in San Diego, I realize it and I don’t even go to clubs. He djed at raves, clubs, private parties, and pre-party events with talents like Yin Yang Twins, Prince, Slash from Gun’s n’ Roses, E-40, the Federation, and many more. 

I had the pleasure of meeting Brent once, and yes, he’s a babe

3. DJ Rectangle - djrectangle

I cherish his record like I’ve never made money. Don’t worry if I don’t make sense, point is Rectangle is DOPE.

4. DJ Sean Wilson - DJ Sean Wilson

Also a really dope San Diego dj and a co-founder of the Get Down Society, holds a residency at Jacks in La Jolla, Onyx Room, Aubergine, and Canes. Played major venues in San Diego including Broadway, Belo, Spin, 4th & B, Stingaree + others. In addition to local events members of the Get Down Society have been featured at venues in Vegas, San Francisco, Seattle and Italy. Played parties with Mark Farina, Kaskade, Deep Dish, Donald Glaude, Chuck Love, DJ Sneak just to name a few. So if you like HOUSE, you know where to go.

I’m not that into house music but when i hear a good mix, i can’t let a beautiful thing go.
Check out more of it on their website.

5. www.hiphopphilosophy.com

Next up is Hip Hop Philosophy are very talented kids from San Diego I went to high school wth, check out their pod cast and let me know what you think. I think they’re amazing.

word up,
peace!

What up guys! I’ve been so busy with life these days. School and work are raping my ass lol, well it sure feels like it. So here’s the new update, I’ve finalized my major (again). As much as I’d like to major in political science and history, I can’t, simply b/c that degree won’t pay my bills. So I decided to go for something more realistic, tougher but close to the field of political science. ECONOMICS! I know… death. I don’t know how how I can survive advanced math but I think I can hack it. And whatever doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger and smarter! So, it’s official! 
On the bright side, I actually I find Economics extremely interesting. I’ve never learned so much life-long, useful information in one class. And I’m only half way through! So I’m definitely looking forward to a challenge and years ahead of learning.

But before I take off again for months without a word, I want you all check out Professor Holden, an Economics Professor from Athens. He’s like an economics messiah on YouTube right now. He’s amazing!

Check out this article MSNBC Viewers Lobby for Liberal Host on LA Times website, that will be out in print tomorrow!!!

This is an amazing progress for The Young Turks Nation! Keep going guys and we’ll get Cenk in 10 pm slot and there will finally be a reason to watch MSNBC, in the meantime my TV will remain flipped to CNN.
spread the word!

word.