Colonialism's role in capitalist imperialism

In this episode, part 3 of our ongoing series on Iran, we're joined again by Bikrum Gill for a conversation exploring sovereignty and imperialism in Iran. Our conversation opens with an unpacking of the intersections and distinctions of imperialism, sovereignty, colonialism, and capitalism in a theoretical sense. Once these foundations are laid, we then apply this framework to Iran, answering the question of why Iran's sovereignty is so threatening to the United States.

We then jump into current events and explore the thread that ties together the US's assault on Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Palestine, etc.—and this brings China into the conversation. We talk about the construction of client states and why so many states in Latin America and West Asia have refused to intervene on behalf of Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, and Palestine. Finally, we discuss the Israeli-US war on Iran and what the resistance to it looks like both regionally and within Iran itself.

Bikrum Gill is a faculty in political science and international relations and a scholar of international political economy. He's the author of The Political Ecology of Colonial Capitalism: Race, Nature, and Accumulation, published by Manchester University Press.

Further resources:

• The political ecology of colonial capitalism Race, nature, and accumulation, by Bikrum Gill
• "Orders of Sovereignty: Internal Power and External Dependency in the Recognition of the State of Palestine," by Bikrum Gill
• "The "Second Sacred Defence": Solidarity, Sovereignty and the Politics of Anti-War," by Bikrum Gill
• Black Skin, White Masks, by Franz Fanon
• The Wretched of the Earth, by Franz Fanon
• On Contradiction, by Mao Zedong
• Vocal Politics: Why did the US and Israel launch their war of aggression against Iran? by Bikrum Gill
• The Long Twentieth Century, by Giovanni Arrighi

Related episodes:

• Listen to our ongoing series on Iran
• Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism / Breht O'Shea and Alyson Escalante
• Imperialism in the 21st Century by John Smith
• Alliance of Sahel States Pt. 3: Hyperimperialism and the Fight for Sovereignty w/ Mikaela Nhondo Erskog
• Listen to our ongoing series on Venezuela
• [UNLOCKED] Oil, Monopoly Capitalism, and Imperialism w/ Adam Hanieh
• Listen to our ongoing series on Cuba
• Listen to our ongoing series on Palestine
• Listen to our ongoing series on China
• Third Worldism and the Bandung Spirit w/ Pranay Somayajula
• Listen to our ongoing series on Mexico

Intermission music: "Another War" by Carsie Blanton

Upstream is entirely listener funded. No ads, no promotions, no grants—just Patreon subscriptions and listener donations. We couldn't keep this project going without your support. Subscribe to our Patreon for bi-weekly bonus episodes, access to our entire back catalog of Patreon episodes, and for Upstream stickers and bumper stickers at certain subscription tiers. Through your support you'll be helping us keep Upstream sustainable and helping to keep this whole project going—socialist political education podcasts are not easy to fund so thank you in advance for the crucial support. patreon.com/upstreampodcast

For more from Upstream, visit www.upstreampodcast.org and follow us on Instagram and Bluesky. You can also subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.