An archive of speeches by this insightful author/researcher about how our societal institutions no longer serve us – Themes are: Globalization, US Intervention, Racism, the Media the cost of Empire and a discourse on Julius Caesar, rebel or dictator?
Michael Parenti says that democracy can’t survive under religious rule – whatever that religion may be. Parenti’s warning in this archival recording is as timely and urgently expressed as it was when this speech was first given during the second term of the Reagan administration. This talk is also very funny.
( 48 minutes)
code MP004DVD: To order as film on DVD: $14.00
The class basis of our cultural, educational & legal institutions.
(72 minutes)
code MP003DVD: To order as film on DVD: $14.00
Ideological distortion in the news.
Recorded 1985 or later.
(104 minutes)
code MP002DVD: To order as film on DVD: $14.00
In this 2007 talk for Antioch College in Seattle Parenti raises the intriguing question of how we make a valid analysis of our social reality – given that so many lies are told to confuse us. In Part one of this talk Parenti speaks about lies, dissent, and how we arrive at the truth of our situation and still retain our sanity. In the second half of his talk Parenti raises the question whether the Iraq war was not a failure but a success for some parts of the empire – and why.
Thanks to Mike McCormick for the film and audio recording of this event. Mike is the host of “Mind over Matters” on KEXP radio, Seattle.
code MP043DVD: To order [ . . . ]
30 second Preview/Promo Part ONE
30 second Preview/Promo Part TWO
Dr. Michael Parenti gave this keynote speech for the 4th Annual People’s Movement Assembly at Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington in October, 2012. He talked about economics, neo-liberalism, globalization and the history of capitalism. Parenti spoke and wrote about these topics long before most other academics dared mention – and much less critique –capitalism, the chosen economic form in the US, and really the world.
Raised in a working class Italian family in East Harlem, New York City, Parenti went on to receive his Ph.D. in political science at Yale in 1962. His academic career was cut short by his dismissal after he was arrested for protesting the US war [ . . . ]
A talk on Parenti’s most recent book
28 second Preview/Promo Part ONE
28 second Preview/Promo Part ONE
“The Face of Imperialism will be hated by those who run the Empire, and it will be loved by people around the world – many of them indigenous peoples – who are defending themselves against the Empire.” That’s what the author Andre Vltchek wrote for the jacket of Dr. Michael Parenti’s most recent book.
Parenti is one of the nation’s leading progressive political analysts. After receiving his Ph.D. in political science from Yale Parenti has taught at colleges and universities, in the United States and abroad. He wrote 23 books, among them: Democracy for the Few, Superpatriotism, History as Mystery, Against Empire and God and [ . . . ]
The first talk of 2012 by the social critic and noted author Michael Parenti fit perfectly into the debates of the time, that of the One versus the 99% and the finally no longer taboo question: What exactly is CAPITALISM? Parenti is debunking some of the myths of capitalism: That it creates jobs, peace, democracy and wealth – and more. In Part TWO Parenti describes the pathologies of capitalism by its inability to respond to climate change. Quoting a businessman in a New Yorker cartoon he reads: “While the end of the world scenario will be rife with unimaginable horrors, ..the pre-end period will be filled with unprecedented opportunities.” Also in this segment arguments for the benefits of socialism in [ . . . ]
Dissident Truth and Official Deception
In this talk Michael Parenti quotes Winston Churchill who said to his fellow party members: “History will be kind to us because I plan to write it.” Far from being an objective account of events history bears the mark of its writer, the omissions of the censors, and the interests of those who benefit from making it. In this speech Parenti shows how to take the recording of history back from politicians, the media, professors, clergy, and business people.
Michael Parenti is one of the nation’s leading progressive political analysts. With roots in a working class Italian district of New York and a Ph.D. in political science from Yale Michael Parenti has become an internationally known lecturer. [ . . . ]
From: Understanding Deep Politics Conference, Santa Cruz, CA. – May 14/16 2010
In this entertaining talk, rich with historic references, Parenti describes the right-wing agenda of dismantling social democracy while calling anybody who describes this as a purposeful strategy a conspiracy theorist. He shows that this strategy began right after World War II but culminates now as powerful segment of right wing media and the GOP have moved so far to the right that they have overshot their popular base. Meanwhile democrats, including Obama, unable or unwilling to formulate the social democratic alternative, still talk of bipartisan approaches.
For a broadcast quality mp3 version of Part ONE click HERE
For a broadcast quality mp3 version of Part TWO click HERE
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If the right to vote is taken as a measure of a vibrant democracy, the United States came off to a bad start. Dr. Michael Parenti says that the most interesting list from the period of 1787 is the rather long one of people who were not allowed to vote – and he names all of them. Also, in Part TWO, the many ways in which votes have been stolen during the Bush administration.
This archival recording is a primer on the history of voting and the day to day efforts to make democracy come alive that shows Parenti at his best as historian and engaged political thinker.
Parenti is one of the nation’s leading progressive political analysts. After receiving his Ph.D. [ . . . ]
From the University of Hartford Series: CIVIL LIBERTIES IN THE 21st CENTURY – In his November 2009 lecture at the University of Hartford Dr. Michael Parenti answers intriguing questions about democracy. Is US democracy a result of capitalism as some claim – or does it exist – such as it is – in spite of the current economic system. AND did the founding fathers even envision a democratic system – and why were so many of them opposed to democracy.
Parenti is one of the nation’s leading progressive political analysts. This is part one of his one hour lecture. He was introduced by the President of the University of Hartford, Walter Harrison. After receiving his Ph.D. in political science from Yale [ . . . ]
This is Dr. Michael Parenti’s first talk on his most recent book: God and His Demons. The 2010 book covers the many evils committed in the name of godly virtue throughout history, and the threat posed by fundamentalists and theocratic reactionaries.
Parenti is one of the nation’s leading progressive political analysts. He is a prolific author and an engaging speaker. Parenti grew up in a conservative, catholic, working class Italian community in New York city. After receiving his Ph.D. in political science from Yale he has taught at colleges and universities, in the United States and abroad. He risked and ended his academic career when he openly opposed the war on Vietnam. He serves on the board of judges for Project [ . . . ]
Why the rich can’t save anybody – not even themselves
Parenti predicted the financial crisis and said that giant corporate capitalism – by it’s very nature – is an apocalyptic system. When unregulated the built in elements of ever increased growth may well bring the whole system down. And he described the growing national debt not as a tragic mistake but as a means to shift ever more money from the tax payers to the financial institutions in the form of interest payments. This speech is an analysis of the many structural flaws of a capitalist system that puts it on a permanent collision course with democracy. Recorded on August 23, 2008 at the closing reception for Maria Gilardin’s art [ . . . ]
City Light books in San Francisco’s North Beach was filled to capacity for the book party of Michael Parenti’s most recent work: Contrary Notions. This is a rich selection from the writings of a life time on history, empire, wealth, class power, ideology and much more. Parenti goes where few political analysts dare to go and – with acerbic wit – makes transparent how he arrives at his conclusions. This excerpt of his 45 minute talk addresses taboo subjects such as the murder of the town of New Orleans and 9/11.
This is a highly professional recording by Brightpath Video of Parenti in an intimate book store setting on January 22, 2008.
For a broadcast quality mp3 version of the 29 minute [ . . . ]
This August 28, 2008 analysis of the media is Parenti’s most up-to-date contribution. He gave the keynote speech for the Modern Media Censorship lectures by Project Censored. Each year Project Censored <http://www.projectcensored.org/> gives awards for the most censored news stories of the year. Parenti lists important criteria by which to judge media bias, ranging from ownership to labeling, false objectivity and sensationalism, omission, outright lies and the denial of causality with the famous theory of “stuff happens”.
Michael Parenti has written and lectured on the mainstream media for decades. His key book on the topic is “Inventing Reality – The politics of the News Media.”
For a broadcast quality 29 minute mp3 version of this program click HERE
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