> Wallerstein and Frank's approach is greatly appreciated > by intellectuals who are trying to defend clowns masquarading in > nationalist costumes, like the great leader of Malaysia. Any criticisms > of their 'nationalism' is, conveniently, labelled "Eurocentric" (or > racist...), end of discussion. For, after all, the clown is a leader of a > "Periphery" nation, battling a "Core" or "Western" nation...Before Henry > left, one of his last posts was such a call for support for > Mahathir... > Steve Come on, what could you use possibly have against Mohamad Mahathir? After all, his government has used of class, gender, and ethnic politics to maintain workplace stability by opposing national electronics union, terrorizing and imprisoning labor organizers, and playing Malay workers against Chinese workers. The political grouping that he heads (United Malays National Organization/UNMO) has functioned as a holding company for many of large domestic firms and join ventures with transnational capital. Since coming to power in 1981, Mahathir regime's 'bureaucratic authoritarianism' has furthered interests of political state, local capital, and foreign investors while forcing working people to bear the brunt of its 'developmentalist integration' with regional and global economy. I can think of more appropriate word than "clown' to describe him. Michael Hoover
