power and global inequity

I am such a nerd. You know, I don't even read any fiction anymore (unless it's "good" for me, but that's another matter...). For the past ten years or so I have neglected fiction and fantasy for the tomes of essays and nonfiction, basically immersing myself in postmodern art theory, history, and philosophy. Also, I practice my nerdiness throughout the day by listening to a steady stream of NPR while I work. But! In light of all this constant downloading of info, I get to make interesting chit chat with strangers and am a marvelous dinner guest--ha ha!



OK, but this post is really about a great book I read a few years ago, Guns, Germs and Steel, by Jared Diamond. I happily stumbled across a PBS TV documentary based on said book last night and got totally reingrossed with the question: why is it that certain (mostly Western) civilizations rose to prominence with inventions, conquests, and power over others?

Guns, Germs, and Steel (both the book and the TV show) posit that it's a total accident of geography and circumstance, as opposed to any innate "superiority" of one civilization over the other. Dedicatedly anti-racist, the book is a fabulous read in trying to come to terms with the big "why" of the world order. I am totally looking forward to reading it's follow up (right, after I read all the OTHER books I've been meaning to read!), "Collapse" which talks about why powerful civilizations collapse--usually by self-destructive means of exhausting their resources and overpopulation. Diamond is taking a stance in comparing ancient civilizations to contemporary nation superpowers, and warning of disaster if we don't do more to address social and economic imbalance, as well as environmental degradation.

One episode of the TV show was on last night, and there are several episodes forthcoming, so watch out for them!

==> PBS website for Guns, Germs, Steel