US Empire Is ‘Over’: Richard Wolff On The Next Global ‘Policeman’, New Alliances

Summary

Richard Wolff argues that the US empire is in decline and that China and the BRICS are the emerging economic and geopolitical center of gravity. He dismisses recent Russian drone incursions into Europe as political theater, says Russia is winning the Ukraine war and benefiting economically from it, and criticizes European and US policies for damaging Europe's economy. He also discusses Gaza, Israel's isolation, Taiwan as a US-China bargaining chip, and military Keynesianism as a US political-economic model.

• Wolff calls Russian drone incursions into Eastern Europe political theater and doubts Russia wants war with NATO.
• He says Europe's economic downturn stems from sanctions, tripled energy prices, and US tariffs; Germany is in recession.
• He argues Russia's economy has grown faster than the West during the war and that BRICS ties are strengthening.
• He says China and BRICS now have a larger combined GDP than the G7 and faster growth.
• He views Israel as increasingly isolated, with European dockworker boycotts disrupting its trade.
• He dismisses the Israeli lawmaker's Taiwan visit as pandering and says Taiwan is a bargaining chip.
• He explains military Keynesianism as deficit-financed military spending used to stimulate the US economy.
• He predicts China may become the next global hegemon or lead a multinational order.