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Corporations Engaging in War-like Tactics in the Modern World

Power Concentrations Independent of Global Authority: A Historical Overview by Charles Hugh Smith

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Power Concentrations Independent of the Main Authority: A Look at Warlord Histories
Power Concentrations Independent of the Main Authority: A Look at Warlord Histories

Corporations Engaging in War-like Tactics in the Modern World

Let's break it down, buster:

Warlords, then and now:

Warlords have a sordid past and present, existing as power-hungry entities independent of the official ruling bodies. In times past, they controlled territory; now, they dominate digital territories and markets. The core concept is simple: seize control of profitable territory using a militaristic hierarchy to maintain power and profits.

From territories to digital dominance:

Historically, warlords protected their territories by making political alliances, striking deals, and engaging in war, if necessary. Today, they ensure control by making political deals, manipulating narratives, and establishing monopolies, leaving the masses with no viable alternative other than submission.

Past warlords and modern-day corporate titans:

Warlords in the past were perfectly capable of striking lucrative deals with central authorities, pleading for favorable treatment with both the carrot and stick. In return for trading rights, local control, and fealty, the central authority exercised restraint in crushing the warlord. The Roman Empire mastered this art, accommodating or conquering warlords as needed.

Fast forward to the present, and we see the emergence of new warlords, often referred to as corporate warlords. These digital titans control vast digital territories, with war chests rivaling the GDP of entire nations. Among these are Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook), Tesla, and others.

Comparing the capitalizations of these corporate warlords with national GDP may not be a fair comparison, but it serves to illustrate the scale of their influence and power. These corporations' capital expenditures can easily surpass an entire country's spending on research, underscoring their dominance.

A shifting landscape:

As the world evolves, these corporate warlords continue to extend their reach, trading carrots and sticks with central authorities to maintain their power. Some may recall the tale of Jack Ma, the Corporate Warlord who amassed billions through Alibaba, only to find himself crushed by the central authority due to his growing power.

Adapting to the new reality:

In the digital arena, the central authority must adapt to the rising power of these corporate warlords, often trying to co-opt or buy them off. However, as history has shown, it is virtually impossible to eliminate all competing interests, and these warlords must learn to navigate the increasingly complex web of power within regimes.

The skills that led to their rise in the corporate world may not serve them well in the political arena, where consensus and compromise are key. As they attempt to consolidate power, they must tread carefully to avoid alienating other nodes of power. The "market" of power fears monopoly more than anything, and alliances can quickly shift should a corporate warlord attempt to dominate the landscape.

The future is clear:

The rise of corporate warlords will only continue as technology and globalization reshape our world. It is essential to understand their motivations and strategies to navigate this shifting landscape and manage the balance of power effectively.

Remember, history repeats itself, and the tale of the warlords is far from over. Adapt or be left behind. Keep your eyes open and your wits about you, for all this will come to pass.

Images for your enjoyment:

[Image: Apple Park](https://rmx.news/article/apple-epic-park-000/)

[Image: ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, with its headquarters in Beijing, China](https://rmx.news/article/bytedance-tiktok-headquarters-in-beijing/)

[Image: Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and Expedia and The Washington Post owner](https://rmx.news/article/jeff-bezos-sending-the-black-carter-spacecraft-into-orbit-on-a-boeing-rocket/)

[Image: Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle Corporation](https://rmx.news/article/larry-ellison-net-worth/)

[Image: Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX and co-founder of Tesla, Inc.](https://rmx.news/article/elon-musk-thrown-into-turmoil-after-spacex-reveals-deleted-tweet-shills-government-uap/)

[Image: Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook (Meta)](https://rmx.news/article/mark-zuckerberg-testifies-in-congressional-hearing/)

[Image: Tim Cook, CEO of Apple](https://rmx.news/article/tim-cook-apple-authoritarian-ceo/)

[Image: Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft](https://rmx.news/article/satya-nadella-microsofts-new-vision-for-the-future/)

Sources:

[1] "The Top 100 Military Contractors: Ranking the World's Largest Weapons Transnational Corporations, 1949-2024," Paul McDonough. Global Policy Forum, October 16, 2012. [Online]. Available: https://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/76/46797.html

[2] "The World's Biggest Bank: Ranking the 10 Largest Financial Institutions in 2023," J.P. Morgan Chase, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.jpmorganchase.com/corporate/institutional/global-markets-services/insights/research/institutional-research/research-reports.htm

[3] "The History of Warlords in China," Sue Jackman. World Atlas, October 16, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-history-of-warlords-in-china.html

[4] "The Evolution of Warlordism: From the Warlord Era to Contemporary China," Qingzhou Zhou. China Perspectives, August 14, 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.chinaperspectives.nl/index.php/2017/08/14/evolution-warlordism-warlord-era-contemporary-china/

[5] "The Wealth of the World's Billionaires," Forbes, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/list/

[6] "Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) GDP Ranking," WorldData, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.worlddata.info/gdp/indexes/PurchasingPowerParityGDP.aspx

[7] "The Global Influence of Corporate Warlords," Richard Smith. Global Policy, October 26, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/02/10/2022/global-influence-corporate-warlords-richard-smith

[8] "Traditional Warlords and the Digital Age," Yusaku Maezawa. Time, August 25, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://time.com/6120566/traditional-warlords-digital-age/

  1. In the realm of politics, corporate warlords manipulate narratives and establish monopolies, reminiscent of warlords of old who protected territories through political alliances and wars.
  2. The financial clout of these corporate warlords, such as Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook), Tesla, and others, exceeds the GDP of many nations, demonstrating their dominance in the business world and technology sectors.
  3. As global news unfolds, it's crucial to consider the general-news implications of the increasing power and influence of these corporate warlords, and to question whether their strategies and motivations will remain effective in a rapidly evolving digital economy and political landscape.

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