Guerrilla History Surplus Populations and the Political Economy of Waste w/ Ali Kadri
Aug 29, 2025
In a captivating discussion, Ali Kadri, a globally recognized professor and author, dives deep into the complex concept of surplus populations and the political economy of waste. He critiques the traditional overpopulation narrative, arguing for a Marxist perspective that views humanity as a crucial resource. Kadri highlights how scarcity is often manipulated within capitalist frameworks to exert control over the working class. The conversation ends with a provocative look at the future of resistance and the need for systemic change.
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Scarcity Is A Political Construction
- Ali Kadri argues scarcity is constructed under capitalism to discipline and subjugate working classes rather than a natural limit.
- He says capitalism creates scarcity by withholding resources and income to prevent revolutionary consciousness and control populations.
Reserve Army As Global Imperial Mechanism
- Kadri reframes Marx's 'reserve army' to include globally displaced populations produced by imperialism.
- He insists the reserve army enforces low wages and serves accumulation across the integrated world system.
Imperialism Enforces Global Uneven Development
- Kadri links imperialism to systematic underdevelopment in the South to maintain cheap labor and resources for the North.
- He argues capital centralizes technology and wealth through ongoing aggression that prevents Southern industrialization.
