Systemic Entropy and Power: Explaining the Breakdown of World Order — Curro Jimenez

This is a follow-up to the previous post. It is a meta-analysis and explanation of the current transition in the world order, driven by the Second World (China and, previously, the USSR, now Russia) and the Third World (the rest) catching up technologically. At the same time, the First World lags owing to financialization and de-industrialization.

Naked Capitalism
Systemic Entropy and Power: Explaining the Breakdown of World Order
Curro Jimenez

See also at NC

Hobbes addressed the imposition of order.

Thomas Hobbes and His Political Philosophy
Dr. Vladislav B. Sotirovic, Ex-University Professor, Research Fellow at Centre for Geostrategic Studies, Belgrade, Serbia

Emmanuel Todd also looks at the contemporary trend of the breakdown of order in the West and the consequent imposition of order through authority. Todd recently published The Defeat of the West based on the analysis he summarizes in this post. His point is that neoliberalism, grounded in Western primacy, has failed as a global organizational principle, resulting in growing systemic disorder.

Emmanuel Todd Substack
Dialogue in Hiroshima
Emmanuel Todd, historian, anthropologist, demographer, sociologist and political scientist at the National Institute of Demographic Studies (INED) in Paris

 

How the BRICS+ Unit Can Save Global Trade — Pepe Escobar

Pepe Escobar explains "The Unit" as an alternative to the USD in international trade, as well as in banking and finance. It is loosely based on the bancor proposed by Keynes at Bretton Woods, which was rejected in favor of the USD fixed to gold.

This would facilitate "de-dollarization" in the sense of providing an alternative settlement vehicle to avoid weaponization of the dollar. Another meaning of "de-dollarization" is replacement of the USD as the global reserve currency. This is not the objective of The Unit.

The Unit is essentially a benchmark token – or an index token; a post-stablecoin, digital monetary tool; totally decentralized; and with intrinsic value anchored in real assets: gold and sovereign currencies.

The Unit can be used either as part of a new digital infrastructure – what most of the Global South is striving for; or as part of a traditional banking setup.

When it comes to fulfilling traditional money functions, The Unit is – pardon the pun – right on the money. It’s meant to be used as a quite convenient medium of exchange in cross-border trade and investments – a key plank of the diversification actively pursued by BRICS+.

It should also be seen as an independent, reliable measure for value and pricing, as well as a better store of value than fiat money....

The Unz Review

How the BRICS+ Unit Can Save Global Trade
Pepe Escobar

See also

Blowback from the weaponization of the USD.

Andrew Korybko's Newsletter
A Top US Foreign Policy Magazine Warned About Trump’s Counterproductive Policy Towards BRICS
Andrew Korybko