America Besieged

by Michael Parenti

America Besieged deals with the underlying forces within U.S. society that deeply affect our lives. Showing how we are being misled and harmed by those who profess to have our interests at heart, Michael Parenti "We are indeed a nation besieged, not from without but from within, not subverted from below but from above; the moneyed power exercises a near monopoly influence over our political life, over the economy, the state, and the media. Some Americans are astonished to hear of it. Others have had their suspicions, although they may not be quite sure how it all adds up. This book invites the reader to stop blaming the powerless and poor and, in that good old American phrase, start 'following the money.' That is the first and most important step toward lifting the siege and bringing democracy back to life." "Parenti's . . . voice is sharp and urgent, providing a short but comprehensive course in radical analysis. He ticks off what he feels are America's a political culture all too ready to worship politicians rather than ask hard questions ("[I]t is the essence of democracy," he cautions, "that we not trust and not have faith in our leaders"); a fundamentally unjust economy in which "pollution, like sin, is regularly denounced but vigorously practiced"; a state shockingly willing to tolerate the murder of left-wing dissidents from other countries; and a narrow-minded, jingoistic mass media that serves as the handmaid of corporate power (why, he asks, did neo-Nazi--but pro-capitalist--David Duke's failed Senate bid receive so much more attention than Socialist Bernard Sanders's victory?). Rather more hyperbolically, he notes that the recent Olympics "felt more like Munich 1936 than Atlanta 1996." Opinionated and angry, but also reasonable and sincerely hopeful in the possibility of a better future through collective action, this is a book Joe Hill would have loved." — Publishers Weekly Michael Parenti, one of America's most astute and entertaining political analysts, is the author of Against Empire, Dirty Truths, Blackshirts and Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism, Democracy for the Few, Land of Political Mythology in America , and many other books.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, United States

205 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

About the author

Michael John Parenti, Ph.D. (Yale University) is an American political scientist, academic historian and cultural critic who writes on scholarly and popular subjects. He has taught at universities as well as run for political office. Parenti is well known for his Marxist writings and lectures. He is a notable intellectual of the American Left and he is most known for his criticism of capitalism and American foreign policy.

Reviews

[Monty Python · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this was the first ever explicitly political book I've ever read.

[*nicole* Yasuhara · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book is a good start for any newbie left wing radical. my problem is not with parenti's ideas, but with his references. meaning that he provides none. with a book like this, that attacks so many people and institutions (deservedly), i would hope the back would be filled with citations. not only to buttress my next argument with my right wing father, but also for additional reading.

[Luís Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very telling list of facts clearly contradicting the notion of a "democratic" USA.

Political suppression of the left, support to racist neo-Nazi movements, support to extreme-right terrorist organization (many foreigners) killing US citizens in US soil, everything is possible in not-at-all democratic USA,

[Roberto Yoed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleventh book from Parenti.

A good resume of his previous works: straight to the point and clear.

I only found 2 new/updated facts (collaboration between some enterprises and all US presidents and the FBI helping the KKK).

[Chris Meger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is extreme leftist stuff, even for me. And a lot of it is just singing to the choir. Mostly it just reminds me how radical I am, and keeping that in mind can be satisfying all by itself.

[sologdin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like this author well enough, but the concept of this volume is not at all cosmopolitan, and relies more on a rightwing topos than anything else. a misstep, therefor.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parenti won't convert anyone who differs with him, but it's a fairly quick read. This is mostly preaching to the choir.