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US Imperialism Pushes World Towards World War III

The content of the article from the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) titled "US imperialism and the drive to World War III" provides a detailed critique of US foreign policy, focusing on its role in escalating global tensions and pushing the world toward a potential third world war. The piece argues that US imperialism, driven by the interests of the capitalist ruling class, is the primary force behind the current geopolitical crises, particularly in relation to conflicts involving Russia, China, and the Middle East. It frames these conflicts as part of a broader strategy to maintain American hegemony in a world where its economic dominance is increasingly challenged by rival powers. The article also connects these international struggles to domestic issues within the United States, portraying the working class as the ultimate victim of imperialist policies through economic exploitation and the erosion of democratic rights.

The central thesis of the article is that the United States, as the leading imperialist power, is engaged in a desperate bid to preserve its global dominance amid a shifting world order. It points to the post-World War II era as the foundation of American supremacy, established through military might, economic control via institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and the dollar's status as the world's reserve currency. However, the article contends that this dominance has been eroding due to the rise of economic competitors like China, as well as the internal contradictions of capitalism within the US itself, such as growing inequality and social unrest. This decline, it argues, has led the US ruling elite to resort to increasingly aggressive military and political strategies to reassert control, even at the risk of catastrophic global conflict.

One of the primary examples provided in the article is the ongoing war in Ukraine, which it describes as a proxy conflict orchestrated by the US and NATO against Russia. The piece asserts that the US has deliberately provoked this conflict by expanding NATO eastward, encircling Russia, and supporting the 2014 coup in Ukraine that installed a pro-Western government. This, it claims, is part of a broader strategy to weaken Russia, a nuclear-armed power, and prevent it from forming alliances with other rivals like China. The article warns that the Biden administration's policies, including massive military aid to Ukraine and the deployment of advanced weaponry, have heightened the risk of direct confrontation between nuclear powers, bringing the world closer to a devastating war. It criticizes the mainstream media and political establishment for framing the conflict as a defense of democracy, arguing instead that it serves the interests of US imperialism and the profits of the military-industrial complex.

Similarly, the article addresses US policy toward China, identifying it as the primary long-term threat to American hegemony due to its rapid economic growth and expanding global influence. It highlights the US "pivot to Asia" under the Obama administration, continued under Trump and Biden, as a strategy to contain China through military encirclement, trade wars, and alliances with regional powers like Japan, South Korea, and Australia. The piece points to the militarization of the South China Sea and the provocative rhetoric surrounding Taiwan as evidence of US intent to provoke conflict with China. It argues that the US ruling class views China’s rise not merely as an economic challenge but as an existential threat to the capitalist world order, necessitating aggressive measures that could lead to a military clash with catastrophic consequences.

The Middle East also features prominently in the article’s analysis, with a focus on US support for Israel and its role in perpetuating conflict in the region. The piece describes US policy as driven by the need to secure strategic control over oil resources and maintain Israel as a key ally against Iran and other regional adversaries. It condemns the US for enabling Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, framing them as part of a broader imperialist agenda to dominate the Middle East. The article argues that this policy not only fuels regional instability but also risks drawing the US into wider conflicts with Iran and its allies, further escalating global tensions.

Domestically, the article links these imperialist policies to the erosion of democratic rights and the intensification of class inequality within the United States. It contends that the massive military spending required to sustain global dominance—hundreds of billions of dollars annually—comes at the expense of social programs like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. The working class, it argues, bears the brunt of these policies through wage stagnation, job losses, and the burden of inflation, while the ruling elite and corporations reap enormous profits from war and militarization. Furthermore, the article warns that the drive to war is accompanied by increasing authoritarianism at home, as the government seeks to suppress dissent and militarize society to prepare for potential domestic unrest. It cites examples such as the expansion of surveillance, the crackdown on protests, and the use of nationalist propaganda to justify imperialist adventures abroad.

The piece also critiques the role of both major US political parties in advancing this imperialist agenda. It argues that there is a bipartisan consensus on the need to maintain American dominance, with differences between Democrats and Republicans being largely tactical rather than fundamental. Whether under Democratic administrations emphasizing multilateral alliances or Republican ones favoring unilateral action, the ultimate goal remains the same: to secure the interests of the capitalist class on a global scale. The article dismisses the notion that elections or reforms within the current system can address these issues, asserting that the root cause lies in the capitalist system itself, which inherently prioritizes profit and power over human needs.

In its broader historical context, the article draws parallels between the current period and the lead-up to the First and Second World Wars, periods marked by intense imperialist rivalries and economic crises. It suggests that capitalism, as a system, inevitably produces such conflicts as competing powers vie for control of markets, resources, and geopolitical influence. The difference today, it warns, is the existence of nuclear weapons, which make the prospect of a third world war far more destructive, potentially threatening the survival of humanity itself. The piece invokes the warnings of socialist thinkers like Lenin, who argued that imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism and inevitably leads to war unless overthrown by a revolutionary movement of the working class.

The article concludes with a call to action, urging the international working class to oppose imperialism and war through unified, revolutionary struggle. It argues that the only way to prevent a descent into global conflict is to dismantle the capitalist system that drives imperialism and replace it with socialism, a system based on the collective ownership of resources and the prioritization of human needs over profit. It emphasizes the need for workers in the US and around the world to reject nationalist propaganda and recognize their shared interests against the ruling elites who benefit from war and exploitation. The piece envisions a global movement that transcends borders, uniting workers against the forces pushing humanity toward catastrophe.

In summary, the article presents a scathing indictment of US imperialism as the primary driver of global conflict and instability. It situates current geopolitical crises within a historical and systemic framework, arguing that capitalism’s inherent contradictions and the declining dominance of the US are propelling the world toward a potentially catastrophic third world war. By connecting international aggression to domestic oppression, it seeks to expose the class nature of imperialist policies and rally opposition among the working class. The urgency of its tone reflects a deep concern about the trajectory of global events, while its proposed solution—socialist revolution—offers a radical alternative to the status quo, challenging readers to imagine a world free from the destructive forces of imperialism and war.

Read the Full World Socialist Web Site Article at:
[ https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/07/17/jcrw-j17.html ]