Investigative journalists Claire Provost and Matt Kennard join Jon Schwarz to discuss their book 'Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy' and explore the international structures and laws that enable corporate dominance. They highlight cases in Honduras, South Africa, and Palestine, emphasizing the need for awareness about the impact of corporate power on democracy. The hosts also discuss the importance of freedom in journalism and encourage readers to cause some trouble by reading their book.
The book 'Silent Coup' by Claire Provost and Matt Kennard exposes how multinational corporations have constructed a network of international courts and agreements that prioritize their interests over democratic decisions made by governments.
The investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system, established in 1966, grants multinational corporations unprecedented power to challenge government decisions, effectively undermining democracy by prioritizing investor rights over the interests of the people.
Deep dives
The History of Corporate Overreach
The podcast explores the historical development of international systems that allow corporations to overrule democratic decisions. The book 'Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy' by Claire Provost and Matt Kennard reveals how powerful corporations have created a network of international courts and agreements to prioritize their interests over those of the people. The authors examine the deliberate construction of this system after World War II, which allowed multinational corporations to challenge and undermine democratic decisions made by governments.
The Specifics of Investor-State Dispute Settlement
The podcast highlights the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system, a key component of the international corporate court framework. The ISDS system, established in 1966, allows multinational corporations to sue sovereign states when their policies affect corporate interests. The authors discuss how this system grants corporations unprecedented power to challenge government decisions, such as nationalizing resources or raising minimum wages. The ISDS system effectively undermines democracy by prioritizing investor rights over the interests of the people.
Privatization of Security and Weapons Testing
The podcast delves into the privatization of security and the weaponization of conflict zones. The authors discuss how Israel has privatized security operations in Palestine, allowing private contractors to operate with impunity. They also uncover the disturbing trend of using occupied territories as testing grounds for innovative weaponry and surveillance technologies. By highlighting the use of Palestine as a novel laboratory for military experimentation, they expose the connection between privatization, corporate profit, and the erosion of human rights.
Consequences for Democracy and Global Resistance
The podcast addresses the consequences of corporate overreach for democracy and the challenges faced by those who resist this system. The authors argue that the international corporate court framework radically undermines democracy, rendering governments and their citizens powerless against corporate power. They emphasize the need for solidarity and support for countries and communities facing legal challenges under this system, as resistance to corporate domination has proven challenging. By shedding light on specific cases, the podcast calls for greater awareness and action to dismantle this silent coup.
The new book “Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy” by investigative journalists Claire Provost and Matt Kennard reveals how the world actually works: the international structures and laws that preempt most attempts at any kind of economic democracy in most of the countries around the world. This week on Deconstructed, Provost and Kennard join Jon Schwarz to discuss this "silent coup" by powerful multinational companies.
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