Chalmers Johnson; Professor Emeritus, University of California; Author, Nemesis (3/6/2007)

Chalmers Johnson; Professor Emeritus, University of California; Author, Nemesis

In conversation with Patrick Lloyd Hatcher, Kiriyama Distinguished Visiting Professor, Center for the Pacific Rim, USF

Johnson, a high-profile critic of American foreign policy, will argue that America’s “imperial overreach” is undermining its political and economic strength. He will offer his critique of U.S. military policy, from the CIA’s abuse of power, to Congress’ failure to check the military budget. He will also explain why he believes that America’s militarism – our dependence on what he says is a permanent war-time economy – could lead America to financial bankruptcy and the collapse of constitutional government.

Johnson is a professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego. He is author of many books and articles, most recently the Blowback trilogy, a three-book study on the effect of American imperialism. The first in the series, Blowback, The Sorrows of Empire, won the American Book Award in 2001. Known for his scholarship on Asia, he served as the chairman of the Center for Chinese Studies at UC Berkeley from 1967 until 1972, and is the co-founder and president of Japan Policy Research Institute. Johnson served in the Navy during the Korean War and was a CIA consultant for the Office of National Estimates. The frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times, the London Review of Books, and The Nation, appeared in the 2005 prizewinning documentary film Why We Fight. He lives near San Diego.
 

This program was recorded live March 6, 2007