Pirates of the Caribbean: Axis of Hope Hardcover – December 17, 2006

"Pirates of the Caribbeab" by Tariq Ali is a good introduction to the Bolivarian Revolution that is reshaping life and politics in South America. Mr. Ali provides an astute blend of historical, biographical and analytical commentary that serves to help the reader appreciate the significance of the continent's challenge to U.S. power. In addition, an extensive appendix includes a short essay and interviews with key figures as well as reprints of speeches delivered by Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales, with the latter allowing us a rare opportunity to assess these leaders in their own words.Mr. Ali discusses how the corporate media has spewn a great amount of disinformation about Presidents Chavez and Morales who should be understood as embodying a mass populist response to the failed policies of neoliberalism. Mr. Ali provides short histories of Venezuela and Bolivia to show how corporate interests in the U.S. have for many decades allied with South American elites to exploit natural resources for profit. However, social movements driven by the continent's extreme conditions of inequality has given impetus to political struggles that have culminated in the free elections of Mr. Chavez and Mr. Morales to office. In fact, Mr. Ali recalls the dramatic story of how the Venezuelan people rallied to the defense of Mr. Chavez during the failed coup attempt of 2002 which was engineered by the Venezuelan oligarchy with the tacit encouragement and support of the U.S. government. Mr. Ali enlivens his narrative with first-hand interviews conducted with Mr. Chavez and others during several visits to the country.Mr. Ali also visited Cuba to study and reflect upon the significance of that country's longstanding revolution. While acknowledging many faults with the Cuban experience (such as the continued repression of free speech), Mr. Ali contends that Fidel Castro's leadership continues to provide inspiration to others. Specifically, Mr. Castro's dedication to revolutionary principles following the collapse of the USSR has shown that alternatives to globalization are possible. Mr. Ali goes on to discuss the special relationship forged between Mr. Castro, Mr. Chavez and Mr. Morales, including the key role Cuba played in ensuring the survival of the Chavez government when a strike by Venezuelan healthcare professionals and teachers threatened to bring many essential national services to a halt.A short biography of Simon Bolivar details the revolutionaries' extraordinary life and seeks to show how the mutual support and cooperation between Bolivia, Cuba and Venezuela could be a sign that Mr. Bolivar's dream might finally be taking shape in our lifetime. Interestingly, Mr. Ali finds a significant number of characteristics shared between Mr. Bolivar and Mr. Chavez, including a vision of South American unification, an opposition to empire, a recognition of the relationship between economic underdevelopment and national disempowerment, and an underestimation of their leadership skills stemming from their opponent's racist beliefs. While acknowledging the immense challenges that lay ahead, Mr. Ali believes that the socialist ideals championed by Mr. Chavez could help inspire humans around the world to question the status quo and find enduring solutions to violence, economic inequality and environmental destruction.I highly recommend this throughly readable and fascinating book to everyone.

Our media casts these modern day leaders as villians, against everything good and American. Maybe they don't want to be Americans, at least Americans from the United States. It seems like our foreign policy hasn't been working so well down there and the people haven't been complaining so much. Except for the CIA inspired riots and rebellions that took place in Venezuela by those who are against Hugo Chavez (God rest his soul), for instance, the average Venezuelan was happy that he decided to look out for his people rather than the best interests of our corporate higher ups who are there to use and take what they think belongs to them. Whether you agree or disagree with these four leaders, what's good for citizens of the United States may not always be good for the people of Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil and Venezuela.

In this book you will find the truth about some government leaders in South America.Inside you can find that some leaders that are portrait as monsters are great people who are working for the good of their countries.The right-wing emperors, supported by the corrupted Global Media and some dull allies, create the distortion of these governments with their lies, their manipulations and their lack of humanity.Here you will find the truth about Chavez, Morales, Castro and Correa.The tremendous power of the US to bring down these democratic elected presidents is out of its mind.Capitalism is destroying the world, our only hope is to turn and see these leaders, follow their examples, and create a better and possible world.US citizens must read this book, also Latin Americans, the empire and they allies are brainwashing us to became part of this terrible New World Order.

This book is definitely not objective in it's characterization these leaders but it does provide valuable insight into the manipulation of the global news and the falsehoods that are diffused to the masses by the major sources of information.

The book is a collection of various articles written about the South American political situation. Its an eye opener as it talks about the influence of the Washington Consortium over the rest of the world. This and other works is essential in raising awareness against the general prejudice of the countries or cultures going against the grain. I found the character of Chavez, Moralis & Castro. Why can't the Muslim world produce a Chavez??

Amazing insight into the latin American politics and the foreign influence. The role of so called free media, serving interest of their foreign media investers. The book is worth reading, eye-opening facts. Overall, hard to digest for many.

It is the First book I 've read by Tariq Ali and I intend to go through the whole list...

great book really enjoyed this book it was also in great condition real bargain thank you very much indeed brilliant

writing this review in english so all the foreigners like myself get around more easily on german amazon!!truly, no point in reading this, its just like any of his other books and a total waste of time.