AER 154: How to Stop the Exterminating Empire, with Chris de Ploeg

Chris de Ploeg is the author of Exterminating Empire: Capitalism’s War on Life, From Palestine to the Burning Planet (Monthly Review 2026). We discuss the wide-ranging book, some of his shocking calculations, and ideas on how to stop the war on life.

Part 3/4 of our first visit to Interwar Germany. The Weimar Republic is briefly overthrown by a military dictatorship, but the putsch is foiled by the General Strike. The confusing 100 hours of the March 1920 coup in Germany.

From the SPD perspective, with the Kaiser gone, the German Revolution was complete in 1918. But to the Spartacists, there was still a real revolution to be won – worker’s government and socialism. The agonizing decisions leading up to the Uprising of 1919, concluding with the assassinations of revolutionary leaders Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemberg.

The Kaiser abdicates. The Social Democratic Party arrives to power. Karl Liebknecht stands on a balcony and tells the workers: “The rule of capitalism, which turned Europe into a cemetery, is henceforward broken.” But this is just part 1 of 4.

A departure from our normal historical narration: Dave reacts to contemporary USA headlines and politics with a view to American Interwar history. A short review of the whole history of the USA, to wrap up our series on the Interwar US… before we return to form to cover Interwar Germany.

The sordid and criminal US occupation of Haiti 1915-1934 with resistance heroes like Charlemagne Peralte, occupiers like Smedley Butler, a young FDR who hoped he’d be remembered as a “Haiti man”… US racial obsessions and atrocities. And Haiti’s anomalous and scrupulous payment of the debts imposed on it, making it a paradise of American financial … Continue reading "Interwar 16: The US Occupation of Haiti, 1915-1934"

A roundup of Interwar US imperialism in four Central American countries

We go way back, at first, to the rise and fall of the filibustering William Walker, who wanted to be king of Nicaragua. You’ll meet Smedley Butler as well, but this episode on Interwar Nicaragua focuses on the rebel leader who dared to fight the American occupation, Augusto Sandino, who fought from 1927-1933 and has … Continue reading "Interwar 14: Sandino battles the Americans for Nicaragua, 1927-1933"

In the Interwar years America invaded many Central American and Caribbean countries. The major ones included Haiti, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. We start with the DR, 1916-1924, who nonetheless managed to get the Americans to withdraw.

A showdown over evolution at the Scopes Monkey Trial. A frame-up of Sacco and Vanzetti. A pair of Interwar trials define America in this period.