The Power of Money

The Power of Money

            In this weeks discussion we covered interesting topics on how the infrastructures of the city have progressed over time. We have experienced different stages of capitalism and urbanization. In my section of the blog I want to discuss the price of exploitation that we emerge upon other governing states.

            In today’s society we have become more globalized and depend on different states for different resources. Despite that the U.S produces it’s own oil we depend on other countries to keep up with the demand. Due to this globalization we have categorized nations into three stages, core countries, semi-periphery countries, and periphery countries.  Core countries are countries such as United States, Canada, or England that are considered influential and have major political power amongst other states. Periphery countries are the opposite; they are countries that are not as developed as a core state. Examples of periphery states include most states from Africa, or Central America such as Guatemala. Their wealth and political power are not very influential. A semi-periphery country is a country that is between a core state and periphery state. Examples of those states can include Mexico, Brazil or Spain. The reason this becomes important is because core states essentially control the global economy. History has proven how these core states take advantage of their power and exploit the weaker countries for political interest.

            An example on how a core state exploited and “influenced” another country was England with Iran. Iranians consider England as the first great Satan, since it governed Iranian politics. In 1913, the British government maneuvered its way to a contract under which all Iranian oil became its property. Six years later it imposed an “agreement” that gave it control of Iran’s army and treasury (Kinzer, New York Times: 2011). Over time different people became in power of Iran’s politics. They no longer shared England vision of their oil policies. Mr. Mossadegh established a Democracy into the Iranian government. One of his first policies was to nationalize Iran’s oil. England wasn’t too happy of Iran’s new implementing policies. It asked the United States for help to overthrow the Iranian government. They asked President Dwight D. Eisenhower to join in a plot to overthrow him. He agreed, not because he wished to help the British recover their oil but because he had been persuaded that otherwise, Iran might fall to Communism (Kinzer, New York Times: 2011). England and United States on, “August 1953, ended Iranian demoacy and allowed Mohammed Reza Pahlavi to build a dictatorship” (Kinzer, New York Times: 2011). While British Petroleum was increasing its resources financially, it was infringing upon the rights of the Iranian citizens. Institution in core states only care for their political interest. Money influences us in many ways. The fact that these interest where in place it never let Iran grow as a country.

            United States has also have their fair hand in exploitation in other countries. I will mention how it protected their interest by means of “war.” Ever since the fall of Soviet Union the United States has been playing the role of international police. In 1990 Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait. His reasoning was that Kuwait was stealing their oil, but also they were planning to overthrow him. So Saddam Hussein went on the offensive and attacked them first. Saddam Hussein over a period of time kills hundred of people and destroying oil wells. At that time President George Bush Senior was president and in less than six days it enacted on Saddam Hussein aggression towards Kuwait. The reason why I’m bringing this scenario into play is because if it wasn’t for our relationships and interest in Kuwait’s oil, the United States wouldn’t be involved. This show’s the power of money and favors come into play in today’s politics and society. Their have been other genocides in history were no interest were involved in part of the United States, and the U.S just they just let it happen. I am very found of politics, and I used my knowledge on how capitalism affects worldwide policies and relationships amongst the world. How core states always try to stay on top. How they try and control the world economy and resources to maintain that status. But also in many cases preventing periphery states from evolving into a core state.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/opinion/sunday/irans-first-great-satan-was-england.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0