> David Graeber:
>
>> well I just noticed there was a pattern.
>> Civil Rights movement, with mass revival of civil disobedience, direct democracy movements (Port Huron statement) - government both gives big concessions and starts overseas war (Vietnam)
>> Anti-Nuclear movement, rapid rise of movement based on CD, direct democracy, again govt seems to panic unduly, make surprising concessions, and right afterwards ends detente and starts proxy wars (Afghanistan, Central America)
>> Global Justice movement followed by surprising concessions (well, surprised us how quick) and war on terror
I was speaking of putting a name on it ("American exceptionalism").
I'm not necessarily in disagreement with you, btw. I think Graeber's formulation is extremely mechanical.