Joseph Miranda

... is the guest speaker scheduled for the 132nd meeting of the Karl Hess Club, to convene on June 20, 2005.

Joseph Miranda on "The China Syndrome: Geopolitical Meltdown as China Covets African Oil and Trade"

Our resident military-political "tank thinker" will analyze an emerging world paradigm shift that may come to full expression over the next half decade.

The last century saw China progress from rickshaws to rocketships, developing the world's fastest growing economy and becoming the eastern hemisphere's looming superpower, destined, it would seem, to rival the United States for global hegemony.

A recent report suggests that China and India may reach a strategic trade alliance over the next year, presenting a formidable challenge to a presumed American trade bloc (with or without South America), and/or a unified European bloc. Can anyone say Eastasia? Topics will include:

* Chinese industrialization: Capitalism in the land of Mao?

* Oil wars: How Chinese and Indian demand for oil is driving up oil prices.

* East Asian economics: Lessons from the industrialization of the "Tigers," the impact of the hi-tech "meltdown," East Asian buy-up of US Treasury Bonds, and Washington's deal to bail out everyone.

* Transforming the People's Liberation Army: From revolutionary movement to hi-tech intervention force. How the Chinese military is adopting new technologies and learning lessons from the U.S. "Revolution in Military Affairs."

* New World Order: Will the Chinese displace the US as the global mega-power? Are Chinese policies more friendly to client states than Washington's?

* How will all this affect liberty?

About Joe Miranda

Joseph is editor of Strategy & Tactics, the leading wargame simulation magazine. He's published some 100 or so military and political simulations. Topics include such diverse topics as a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, the Roman Civil Wars, and the Rodney King Riots. In the 1980s he served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Special Warfare Center.

In addition to his being an editor & game designer, Joe is a writer, political strategist, protest organizer, campus activist, and radical thinker. He does not watch TV. In his spare time he is a cyberpunk.

More info at: One Small Step and Cybercadre.

ADDENDUM: David Harmon took these images at the above meeting.