Of Slaves and Hitmen

Below former ‘economic hitman’ John Perkins weighs-in on the origins and opportunities of our current economic disarray. Perkins, author of the international bestseller Confessions of an Economic Hitman (2004) has lived four lives.

First, as an economist working to indenture millions of people into structural slavery by convincing third-world leaders to accept outlandish loans for infrastructure projects that are designed to keep cash flowing into the corporations who are hired to undertake these projects, as well as to make sure the countries who accept such loans can't possibly pay them back. As an ‘economic hitman’ Perkins helped shape the power landscape that emerged in the 70s and 80s.

Next, Perkins became a successful business owner who was paid to keep silent about his previous employers and his extra-professional activities.

He then went on to conduct independent research on indigenous peoples and shamanism, becoming an unofficial expert on South American cultural practices, writing several books along the way. Most notable of which is Spirit of the Shuar - which intertwines transcribed tape recordings of Shuar voices with Perkins's experiences. Unlike anthropological accounts, such as Philippe Descola's more eloquent but detached Spears of Twilight, Perkins's book is conversational and enthusiastic. He teaches us about a spirituality that arises from a deep connection with nature, one in which shamans use hallucinogens to go on spiritual journeys; the spirits of nature yield hidden knowledge about plants; and dreams can always be fulfilled.

Today, Perkins travels the world talking about his former activities, and exposing the deep corruption and unethical decision-making at the core of current American and multinational corporations, and the insidious institutions which support them. In the following public lecture Perkins explains how the “tools” and practices deployed during the past four decades in developing countries continue to enable hyper-rich elites to appropriate the world’s natural resources - consequently steering the globally connected economic system and the planetary ecology toward total collapse.

It has been said that crisis can offer great 'opportunity' - but only if we seize it. And today, as in the past, our species has to make a concerted effort to engage and overcome the dominating systems and power-elites which seek to prevent us from seizing the opportunities of our time.

We can either choose to hide our heads, and numb emotions, or we can get involved, and make better choices - and fight for everything that is truly important on this tiny planet…