Why Vietnam?

Abstract

The article by Harry Magdoff which begins on page 10 below establishes beyond any possibility of doubt that the United States economy is not only heavily involved in a variety of activities beyond the country's borders; it is crucially and decisively dependent on its foreign involvements. Further, it is self-evident that the profitability of these involvements is positively and strongly correlated with the degree of control exercised by the corporations and individuals concerned over the markets and fields of investment in which they operate. If, finally, we take account of that iron law of capitalism, that every profit-making enterprise is under permanent pressure to expand, we reach the conclusion that United States capitalism is and must be continuously seeking not only to maintain but to extend the scope of its foreign involvements and to strengthen its control over the economies and societies into which it penetrates. It is this relentless drive to expand and dominate which is commonly, and quite correctly, considered to be the essence of imperialsm. One can say without fear of exaggeration that if this is not understood there is no possibility of understanding what is happening in the world today.This article can also be found at the Monthly Review website, where most recent articles are published in full.Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.