If so, was it polled somewhere?

You are viewing a single thread.
View all comments View context
30 points
*

When you guys mention the imperial core, what are you talking about? DC? Hollywood? Wall Street? Brussels? London? Paris? Berlin? The Hague? Where is this imperial core you keep mentioning?

permalink
report
parent
reply

“imperial core” isn’t a phrase we made up. It refers to World Systems Theory, a theory of international relations invented by a guy named Immanuel Wallerstein which argues that imperial “Core” countries (think the traditional “developed” or “first world” countries. Mainly the US and Europe) have a particular extractive, colonial relationship with “Periphery” countries (think poor, raw material exporting, rentier states like Kyrgyzstan or Nigeria).

Then there are semi-periphery countries which are still tied into the imperial core in some way, but have enough sway economically and geopolitically to kind of stand on their own. They have a different kind of relationship to the imperial core, compared to the periphery (these would be the BRICS countries, largely).

That’s a gross over simplification, but hopefully that answers your question.

Edit: Here’s a really good explanation of World Systems Theory that goes into more depth

permalink
report
parent
reply
34 points
*

Wasn’t aware of this framework, thank you for taking the time to explain it :)

permalink
report
parent
reply

No problem!

permalink
report
parent
reply
34 points
*
Deleted by creator
permalink
report
parent
reply
5 points

To be fair, colonialism is a human trait and it’s been proven in every large society time and time again. You think the current US/UK empire is bad but if you look in your own back yard it’s the same thing with a different spin.

It is inevitable, humans are destined for this. It’s unfortunate but it’s what we do.

permalink
report
parent
reply

That’s just the propaganda you’ve been fed. The world doesn’t need to be xenophobic or exploitative. These are learnt behaviors.

permalink
report
parent
reply

yeah but the thing is other countries’ policies didn’t inspire apartied and the nazis and their holocaust.

the US’s exterminationist and segregationalist The US did those thing

Hitler wrote in his diary how good america was at genociding its undesireables, and took it and ran with it

The United States: world leader in being the absolute fucking worst thing in human history since 1619

permalink
report
parent
reply

You think the current US/UK empire is bad but if you look in your own back yard it’s the same thing with a different spin.

I don’t think any non-Western country has enslaved a continent, refused to pay reparations for enslaving an entire continent, and continue to plunder an entire continent of its resources.

permalink
report
parent
reply
14 points
*
Removed by mod
permalink
report
parent
reply
Removed by mod
permalink
report
parent
reply
59 points
*
Deleted by creator
permalink
report
parent
reply
31 points

I genuinely would like to understand what you guys at hexbear are about but every time I poke my head into that instance you guys are “dunking” every other instance with language nobody else understands. It’s very alienating.

permalink
report
parent
reply
51 points
*
Deleted by creator
permalink
report
parent
reply
46 points

Honestly your best bet is probably to do some reading first, unfortunately. A lot of Hexbear dialect is that way because it’s tied to concepts that come from books and thinkers we’re broadly familiar with.

If you’re more into video stuff you could try this guy. I think he’s pretty approachable.

Actually if you went into the megathreads and asked most people would probably give you suggestions too. We are fiesty but in my experience we also like to be helpful to people with questions.

permalink
report
parent
reply
43 points

We’re literally just communists. Read any introductory text to communism and 99% of what we say will make sense in context.

permalink
report
parent
reply

I genuinely would like to understand what you guys at hexbear are about

Well, I’d be more than happy to have a good faith discussion with you. No dunking, I promise 🙏

permalink
report
parent
reply

If you ask good faith questions and give context for why “Hey, I’m a liberal and I don’t understand X could you explain what you mean?”

You WILL get excellent engagement and people will give you very good answers

its easy, and if you genuinely want to learn give it a shot

permalink
report
parent
reply
31 points
*
Deleted by creator
permalink
report
parent
reply

To be clear in the dunking threads folks are not usually engaging in good faith with us. When I was on another server and replied with actual questions to stuff everyone was incredibly nice to me and explained stuff super well. Can agree though that folks can see dunking as alientating. I promise though if you can get past that it’s one of the friendliest communities I’ve found on the web.

permalink
report
parent
reply
57 points

The imperial core is the countries that have been most involved in the imperialist plunder of other nations, so that would be the US, Canada, UK, France, Belgium, Germany, etcetera

permalink
report
parent
reply
9 points

Don’t forget China, Tibet?

permalink
report
parent
reply
43 points

Tibet was an oppressive theocratic slave society whose people China liberated.

permalink
report
parent
reply
7 points
*
Removed by mod
permalink
report
parent
reply
41 points
*
Deleted by creator
permalink
report
parent
reply

Note that they said “Most involved” Russia, for instance, has always been the modern “Sick man of Europe” since the fall of the USSR. It’s imperial aspirations don’t extend as far. And it’s relationship to the historic Core of the US and Western Europe, is as a semi-peripheral nation trying to coalesce a regional sphere of influence with itself as the center of gravity. None of that makes it a Core country though.

Maybe if the current world system collapses, and it filled that vacuum. But that hasn’t happened.

Imperial Core refers to the World Systems Theory of International Relations, first put forward by Immanuel Wallerstien. I would suggest you read up on the topic before making half-baked responses like this.

permalink
report
parent
reply
21 points

US (see native Americans)

Spain (see Cuba/ Mexico)

Wow you just got touchdowned on.

permalink
report
parent
reply

This is so adorable.

permalink
report
parent
reply
41 points

permalink
report
parent
reply

You know how any time there’s a map where it colors countries who vote on UN resolutions, or countries where you can be thrown in jail for being poor, etc etc etc etc, you know how its usually a very similar map with US Europe and western allies on one side, and the entire rest of the world (the other 6.5 billion people) on the other?

Yeah, that teeny group that seems to always get its way controlling global politics is the imperial core.

permalink
report
parent
reply
34 points

The Imperial Core was clearly on Coruscant.

permalink
report
parent
reply
5 points

RIP

permalink
report
parent
reply

did it blow up tho

permalink
report
parent
reply
30 points

Where is this imperial core you keep mentioning?

They prefer to be called The International Community™

permalink
report
parent
reply
17 points

And occasionally the “We make the rules, you take the orders” rules-based order.

permalink
report
parent
reply

Where is this imperial core you keep mentioning?

Probably start with where all the giant battleships come from: https://www.businessinsider.com/magnitude-of-us-naval-dominance-2013-11

Why does the USA need all those battleships if they’re not doing imperialism? Are they just cosmetic battleships? Just for shits and giggles?

permalink
report
parent
reply
25 points
*
Deleted by creator
permalink
report
parent
reply

I was answering his question, not trying to be hostile. I did not insult him at all. Just voicing my opinion.

permalink
report
parent
reply
5 points

Ok, so the imperial core is in DC to you, got it. The previous reply is more thoughtful than that.

permalink
report
parent
reply

Another user already explained world systems theory, but there’s also the school of global historical materialism, that analyses the relationship and structure of the imperial core/triad and the periphery/global south. Samir Amin was a leading figure in that, he also coined the term “Eurocentrism”. You can find quite a few recordings of his lectures for free on YouTube, or pirate his books (he’s dead now, so it’s not like he’d get the money anyways).

permalink
report
parent
reply

sh.itjust.works Main Community

!main@sh.itjust.works

Create post

Home of the sh.itjust.works instance.

Join us on Matrix Chat

Community stats

  • 1

    Monthly active users

  • 50

    Posts

  • 1.4K

    Comments