Another good thing to remember here (besides the common thread of the U.S. stirring up shit in all these countries) is that -- just like Americans are generally ignorant about other countries, and project on them what they want to believe -- the same thing also happens in reverse. I recently listened to an interview of a professor who's worked extensively with Chinese academics, and he reported that they were far more optimistic about key aspects of the U.S. than anyone here would be (they were more optimistic than the professor and the host interviewing him, too). I believe Parenti gets into this a bit in Blackshirts and Reds, too.
most people from the developing world have a very idealized view of America. like a lot of people really buy into the American Dream thing. this is especially true for middle class and up people, which might even have greater cultural identification to the US due to media consumption than to their own country and countrymates.
Another good thing to remember here (besides the common thread of the U.S. stirring up shit in all these countries) is that -- just like Americans are generally ignorant about other countries, and project on them what they want to believe -- the same thing also happens in reverse. I recently listened to an interview of a professor who's worked extensively with Chinese academics, and he reported that they were far more optimistic about key aspects of the U.S. than anyone here would be (they were more optimistic than the professor and the host interviewing him, too). I believe Parenti gets into this a bit in Blackshirts and Reds, too.
most people from the developing world have a very idealized view of America. like a lot of people really buy into the American Dream thing. this is especially true for middle class and up people, which might even have greater cultural identification to the US due to media consumption than to their own country and countrymates.