Jacobin Radio Behind the News: The Pentagon’s Big-Tech Pact w/ Laleh Khalili
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Jun 10, 2025 
Laleh Khalili, a Gulf Studies expert at the University of Exeter and author of 'Sinews of War and Trade', discusses the intricate ties between the U.S. military and technology. Kyle Chan, a Princeton researcher specializing in Chinese industrial policy, reveals how China is outpacing the U.S. in tech investments. They delve into the ethical dilemmas of military tech like Palantir, the intersection of tech elitism and harmful ideologies, and the changing dynamics of global economic power, particularly in the context of declining American influence.
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Palantir's Dual Nature
- Palantir's main function is linking disparate government databases but half their claims about their tech are exaggerated.
- They utilize this tech for highly intrusive surveillance and military purposes, raising serious privacy concerns.
Military Drives U.S. Industrial Growth
- The Pentagon has been central to U.S. technological and industrial development since the country's founding in 1802.
- Many industries like chemical manufacturing and steel owe their growth and innovation primarily to military contracts.
Military Funding Shapes Tech Innovation
- Pentagon-driven innovation narrows tech development to military needs, stifling broader imaginative possibilities.
- Vast investments largely go into warfare tech rather than public goods, with side benefits only incidental.
