John Perkins: The Dirty Work of an Economic Hit Man

Author and former “Economic Hit Man” John Perkins joins Tim to talk about his New York Times best-selling book that’s now become a classic. That book is, “Confessions of an Economic Hit Man: China’s EHM Strategy, Ways to Stop the Global Takeover.” He just released an updated version of the book that covers the tactics that China, the U.S. and other major powers have used to wage economic “warfare” in 2023. https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/shapingopinion/Economic_Hit_Man_auphonic.mp3 For the most part, if I were to talk to you about the world’s super powers, you might think I’m talking about armies. Nuclear warheads.  The war machine.  But in 2023, more than ever, the term “super power” may better be described as the countries with the most economic power. Over the decades, the United States, China, Russia and other smaller countries, mostly from the West, have exerted influence through economic means. But make no mistake, economic warfare brings with it its own forms of brutality. That’s what will be talking about today with our guest John Perkins. He’s been on the front lines of this and has some stories to tell. He describes his job as that of an economic hit man. Links John Perkins' Website (JohnPerkins.org) Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, by John Perkins (Amazon) About this Episode’s Guest John Perkins As Chief Economist at a major international consulting firm, John Perkins advised the World Bank, United Nations, IMF, U.S. Treasury Department, Fortune 500 corporations, and countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. He worked directly with heads of state and CEOs of major companies. John’s classic, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man (2004) spent 73 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and has been published in more than 35 languages. It was a groundbreaking exposé of the clandestine operations that created the current global crises. The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man (2016) brought the story of economic hit men and jackal assassins up to date at that time and chillingly home to the U.S. It went on to provide practical strategies for each of us to transform the failing global death economy into a regenerative life economy. The two books have sold more than 1.9 million copies. In addition to economics, politics and global intrigue, John has also written books on indigenous cultures and what they can teach us about sustainability and transformation, including The World Is As You Dream It, Spirit of the Shuar, and The Stress-Free Habit. John has lectured at Harvard, Oxford, and more than 50 other universities around the world. He has been featured on ABC, NBC, CNN, NPR, A&E, the History Channel, Time, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Der Spiegel, and many other publications, as well as in numerous documentaries including The End of Poverty?, Zeitgeist Addendum, and Apology of an Economic Hit Man. He is a founder and board member of Dream Change and The Pachamama Alliance, nonprofit organizations devoted to establishing a world that future generations will want to inherit. He was awarded the Lennon Ono Grant for Peace, and Rainforest Action Network Challenging Business As Usual Award, among other accolades.