Published Reviews
1, 2
National Social Science Press, 2010
Dr. Jiri Polak
Prof., Ted Becker´s The Last Lost Empire is a book based on an immense mass of knowledge and insight accumulated during a brilliant lifelong academic career. It is a book on political economy written by a political scientist, which makes it much more interesting than if it were written by an economist. The style is vivid, unorthodox, with flashes of irony and sarcasm, never dull. Also, it is an online, digital book filled with YouTubes, animations, slide shows, illustrations, computer games…all designed to engage the reader. It is quite effective, but if you need a printed edition, the publisher sends it to you free once you buy the CD of the book
The volume shows how, in the USA, a promising period of aspiration after true democracy was gained before and during the American Revolution was followed by a power struggle with American oligarchs. Through their invention, the U.S. Constitution, what has emerged through a long struggle is the hegemony of national, and then transnational, mammoth corporations which at least up to now dominate America’s, and world’s, political economy.
Not the least of these comprise the U.S.A’s military-industrial complex, which pursuing constant, unlimited expansion at all costs, even by starting and waging unmotivated imperialistic wars. However, such a self-delusional expansionism cannot continue indefinitely. It might end by a collapse of the American economy and, since this economy is by far the largest in the world, the whole planet would be injured in a way we can hardly imagine.
In Becker’s and my view, there is only one way to stop this ominous development. There is only one social force able to save the world and make it safe for future generations: the citizens of each country, each region, and even of the world--themselves. We surely are not going to be saved by the world’s leaders, pursuing their personal ambitions to the bitter end. As has truly been the case surely in recent years, it has been the citizens themselves, assuming control of all the big decisions by introducing elements of direct democracy into the respective systems or changing these systems from the ground up. Illustrations abound.
The last chapter sums up various efforts, in the USA and elsewhere, to introduce such elements into existing economic and political systems, or to replace these systems by new, truly democratic, ones. Direct democracy, especially deliberative democracy, is Prof..Becker´s (and his colleague Dr. Michael Briand’s) special field of interest and, in this field, they are undoubtedly among the leading experts globally. Many examples are provided in many formats, although they disclaim any intention to even come close to listing all the new forms and possibilities.
Facing the current and obvious deteriorating economic and ecological situation, I cannot imagine a book more relevant for the time we live in. Its format is that of a textbook, with questions at the end of each chapter, inviting opinions and feedback from the readers. It will soon appear in this form on his book’s website, which you are reading right now.
The Last, Lost Empire should be a standard textbook at the departments of various branches of social science all over the World. It emphasizes the all governments on this planet are either total or mostly oligarchies. For that alone, it is unique, timely, salient and correct contribution.. It’s about time someone said it.
Dr. Jiri Polak, Editor in Chief, Direct Democracy Newsletter
Founder, Czech Direct Democracy Movement,
Prague, Czech Republic