Peer-Reviewed Papers by Sean K Starrs
Socialist Register 2019: A World Turned Upside Down?, 2018
If the United States made global capitalism in the twentieth century (Panitch & Gindin 2012), ca... more If the United States made global capitalism in the twentieth century (Panitch & Gindin 2012), can China unmake this American making in the twenty-first? If global capitalism was made by integrating the West under the aegis of American hegemony, then can China construct an alternative world order by integrating the East? This essay argues that there are severe contradictions constraining China’s capacity to successfully challenge a global capitalism that continues to be centred upon the United States, including in East Asia. The most important contradictions lie in the nature of China’s nationalist discourse and its economic integration with Western—particularly American—capital. Any sober assessment of China’s new mission of challenging the United States in the twenty-first century needs to be assessed in light of these contradictions, with their unknowable domestic consequences.
This chapter argues that the 21st century rise of emerging markets — and most of all China — sign... more This chapter argues that the 21st century rise of emerging markets — and most of all China — signifies far from American decline, but a closer realization of Henry Luce’s “American century” (1941) than ever before. I argue that: 1) The core of Luce’s vision in the 1940s was a world in which American corporations could expand capitalism and mass consumerism across the globe; 2) That this vision was only partially realized in the latter half of the twentieth century, with many challenges, including from Third World attempts to decouple; 3) That the 21st century capitalist rise and integration of “emerging markets” (no longer the Third World) finally allowed the expansion of mass consumerism to develop truly globally; and 4) That American corporations (and the US state) have been the primary drivers and benefactors of what is now called “globalization”. To bolster this argument, I provide data to show that American corporations continue to be at the pinnacle of global capitalism, with no contenders on the horizon, including China. Moreover, much of China’s contemporary efforts are to join, rather than supplant, the US-centered world order. Hence, the American century is only now being truly realized under the banner of globalization.
Globalisation continues to stir debate. One burgeoning theoretical perspective is the " global ca... more Globalisation continues to stir debate. One burgeoning theoretical perspective is the " global capitalism school " (GCS), anchored around the writings of William Robinson. The GCS argues that globalisation marks a new epoch as nationally-based elites are no longer the central locus of power in world order with the rise of a " transnational capitalist class " (TCC). Jeb Sprague's edited volume, Globalization and Transnational Capitalism in Asia and Oceania, is the first book-length study testing key tenets of the GCS in the Asia-Pacific, and therefore fills a crucial gap. In this review article, it is argued that this book does not overcome what I believe are some key theoretical and empirical problems in the GCS, from not taking the state seriously to a dearth of corporate ownership data to demonstrate the existence of a TCC. To argue this, the article draws upon chapters in the book itself that are critical of the GCS, as well as from empirical research on corporate ownership and nationality. Nevertheless, it is concluded that this book is essential reading for anyone interested in the GCS, as well as the broader theoretical implications and empirical impacts of globalisation in the Asia-Pacific region.
China is the first major country to begin its rapid rise in the era of globalization — yet many o... more China is the first major country to begin its rapid rise in the era of globalization — yet many observers who study the rise of China continue to interpret Chinese national accounts, such as world share of exports, manufacturing, and most of all GDP, as if we still live in a pre-globalization age. That is, with production and value chains now globalized, it becomes more important to investigate who ultimately controls and owns that production rather than discerning its geographic concentration. This essays demonstrates that this is especially the case for China's role as workshop of the world, since it is foreign corporations — especially American — that ultimately own and profit by far the most from the bulk of the internationally
“There is no indication that the BRICS are seriously contemplating challenging this central role ... more “There is no indication that the BRICS are seriously contemplating challenging this central role of the United States (global consumer of last resort, world central banker, global military balancer and guarantor, among others), whether as a bloc or separately. Certainly the arrival of more actors itself cannot be used as evidence that these new actors are attempting to fundamentally challenge the nature of global capitalism”. — Assesses Sean Starrs, recognized researcher of the US’ global economic power from City University of Hong Kong, interviewed by Rafal Wisniewski from the R/evolutions editorial team.
Has the rise of the BRICs weakened the West’s grip on core sectors of the world economy? Sean Sta... more Has the rise of the BRICs weakened the West’s grip on core sectors of the world economy? Sean Starrs weighs impressions of Western decline against the empirical evidence, finding plentiful signs of enduring US and European corporate power.
Spanish Translation of "The Chimera of Global Convergence" in New Left Review 87 Julio-Agosto (20... more Spanish Translation of "The Chimera of Global Convergence" in New Left Review 87 Julio-Agosto (2014): 84-100.
This dissertation intervenes in the more than four decades--long debate on the decline or persist... more This dissertation intervenes in the more than four decades--long debate on the decline or persistence of American economic power. It argues that we cannot move forward without reconceptualizing the nature of economic power in global capitalism, especially by moving beyond national accounts (such as GDP). Too many commentators from across the diversity of perspectives assume that the relative rise and decline of national accounts approximates the relative rise and decline of national economic power. In contrast, this dissertation argues that in the era of
International Studies Quarterly, Vol. 57, Issue 4. Dec 2013.
[*Winner of Foreign Policy's 2013 Albert O. Hirschman Award for Best Writing in Global Political ... more [*Winner of Foreign Policy's 2013 Albert O. Hirschman Award for Best Writing in Global Political Economy*]
This paper argues that a fundamental failing in the debate on the decline of American economic power is not taking globalization seriously. With the rise of transnational corporations (TNCs), transnational modular production networks, and the globalization of corporate ownership, we can no longer give the same relevance to national accounts such as balance of trade and GDP in the twenty-first century as we did in the mid-twentieth. Rather, we must summon data on the TNCs themselves to encompass their transnational operations. This will reveal, for example, that despite the declining global share of United States GDP from 40% in 1960 to below a quarter from 2008 onward, American corporations continue to dominate sector after sector. In fact, in certain advanced sectors such as aerospace and software—even in financial services—American dominance has increased since 2008. There are no serious contenders, including China. By looking at the wrong data, many have failed to see that American economic power has not declined—it has globalized.
RIPE Series in Global Political Economy
Non-Peer Reviewed by Sean K Starrs
Letter to The Financial Times August 10, 2018.
Letter to The Financial Times, July 4, 2017
Interview of me by Hong Kong Economic Journal on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, October 17, 2015.... more Interview of me by Hong Kong Economic Journal on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, October 17, 2015. In Chinese, so I can't read it!
China's stock market crash is a fleeting convulsion. Its system of authoritarian capitalism is un... more China's stock market crash is a fleeting convulsion. Its system of authoritarian capitalism is unscathed.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership is About Expanding US Hegemony in East Asia.
In "Jacobin", May 13,... more The Trans-Pacific Partnership is About Expanding US Hegemony in East Asia.
In "Jacobin", May 13, 2015
Opinion-Piece on Hong Kong's "Umbrella Revolution" accepted by South China Morning Post
Longer opinion piece on Hong Kong's "Umbrella Revolution", published in both The Bullet (based in... more Longer opinion piece on Hong Kong's "Umbrella Revolution", published in both The Bullet (based in Canada) and Links (based in Australia).
Student Evaluations by Sean K Starrs
Description: "Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think."-Alb... more Description: "Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think."-Albert Einstein. With this motto in mind, Sean employs a diversity of tactics to create an atmosphere both inside and outside the classroom in which students feel comfortable challenging everything and everyone, including the professor and themselves—so that students can inculcate lifelong critical thinking skills, an instinct for freedom and democracy, and passion for helping to make a better world for both people and planet. 3) Long Description: As students enter the classroom to the tunes of electronic dance music and observe a professor at the front of the lecture theatre in a pink floral shirt and Birkenstock sandals, they soon realize that they are entering an alternative world of education. In this environment, nothing is sacred: everything and everyone is challenged, no assumptions or opinions are taken for granted (including the professor's), and students are encouraged to do perhaps one of the most difficult things—to challenge thyself. Moreover, imbuing the spirit of " participatory education " espoused by such educators as Noam Chomsky and Paulo Freire, Sean's course assignments emphasize continuous and active learning, rather than the rote memorization and passivity that is associated with a final exam. Instead, there are innovative assignments such as weekly Think Pieces that are akin to a diary of self-reflection, weekly in-class and online participation and engagement, creating a DEC-video essay with interviews on poverty or environmental destruction in Hong Kong, peer-reviewed student debates, as well as a highly interactive and microphone-free lecturing style incorporating oratory and performance theatrics such as wild gestures modelled on stand-up comedians such as Chris Rock. Sean's most innovative class is AIS2200: Intro to International Studies Thru Film, which visualizes six core global issues via five Hollywood movies (and 1 Chinese)—emphasizing how these sometimes abstract issues are directly related to their daily lives, inspiring hundreds of students to want to make a positive difference in the world.
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Peer-Reviewed Papers by Sean K Starrs
This paper argues that a fundamental failing in the debate on the decline of American economic power is not taking globalization seriously. With the rise of transnational corporations (TNCs), transnational modular production networks, and the globalization of corporate ownership, we can no longer give the same relevance to national accounts such as balance of trade and GDP in the twenty-first century as we did in the mid-twentieth. Rather, we must summon data on the TNCs themselves to encompass their transnational operations. This will reveal, for example, that despite the declining global share of United States GDP from 40% in 1960 to below a quarter from 2008 onward, American corporations continue to dominate sector after sector. In fact, in certain advanced sectors such as aerospace and software—even in financial services—American dominance has increased since 2008. There are no serious contenders, including China. By looking at the wrong data, many have failed to see that American economic power has not declined—it has globalized.
Non-Peer Reviewed by Sean K Starrs
In "Jacobin", May 13, 2015
Student Evaluations by Sean K Starrs
This paper argues that a fundamental failing in the debate on the decline of American economic power is not taking globalization seriously. With the rise of transnational corporations (TNCs), transnational modular production networks, and the globalization of corporate ownership, we can no longer give the same relevance to national accounts such as balance of trade and GDP in the twenty-first century as we did in the mid-twentieth. Rather, we must summon data on the TNCs themselves to encompass their transnational operations. This will reveal, for example, that despite the declining global share of United States GDP from 40% in 1960 to below a quarter from 2008 onward, American corporations continue to dominate sector after sector. In fact, in certain advanced sectors such as aerospace and software—even in financial services—American dominance has increased since 2008. There are no serious contenders, including China. By looking at the wrong data, many have failed to see that American economic power has not declined—it has globalized.
In "Jacobin", May 13, 2015
With the roaming conflict in Ukraine and the Chinese stirring up geopolitics in the South China Sea, we can almost feel the tectonic plates of the global order scraping past each other. If we look at the BRICS, the maturing organization that links these actors with each other and two other continents, we ask ourselves how this fits into the picture? What are the consequences of BRICS’ emergence? Does it signify a shift in the global distribution of economic and military power? Is there really something like a BRICS bloc in international economic and political relations? If yes, then what it stands for? Does it challenge the current US-led international order? The first part of this Global Trend: BRICS – More than an Acronym? focuses on the existing organization and its behavior to assess if they are more than the sum or their parts. The second part: In the Shadow of BRICS – Future global actors will look at “what makes BRICS tick,” and identify some opportunities, but mostly challenges for the next echelon of global powers.
BRICS ARE SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATING
CHALLENGING THIS CENTRAL ROLE OF THE
UNITED STATES (GLOBAL CONSUMER OF
LAST RESORT, WORLD CENTRAL BANKER,
GLOBAL MILITARY BALANCER AND GUARANTOR, AMONG OTHERS), WHETHER
AS A BLOC OR SEPARATELY. CERTAINLY
THE ARRIVAL OF MORE ACTORS ITSELF
CANNOT BE USED AS EVIDENCE THAT
THESE NEW ACTORS ARE ATTEMPTING TO
FUNDAMENTALLY CHALLENGE THE NATURE
OF GLOBAL CAPITALISM.” – ASSESSES
SEAN STARRS, RECOGNIZED RESEARCHER
OF THE US’ GLOBAL ECONOMIC POWER
FROM CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG,
INTERVIEWED BY RAFAL WISNIEWSKI
FROM THE R/EVOLUTIONS EDITORIAL
TEAM