Economist Jason Hickel Analyzes Liberal Democracies' Support for Foreign Conflicts

Economist and anthropologist Jason Hickel explores the persistent pattern of liberal democracies supporting foreign conflicts, despite their professed commitment to human rights and democracy. He attributes this to a fundamental contradiction within liberalism: the simultaneous commitment to democratic principles and the imperatives of capitalism. When these commitments clash—such as when upholding human rights abroad threatens corporate profits—liberal states consistently prioritize capital interests.

Hickel argues that this prioritization is not a result of individual hypocrisy but a structural feature of the system, where economic power is concentrated among those who own capital. This concentration allows entities like defense contractors to influence foreign policy through lobbying, campaign contributions, and media ownership, effectively overriding democratic decision-making.

A historical example illustrating this dynamic is the 1953 coup in Iran. In response to Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh's nationalization of the oil industry, the United States and the United Kingdom orchestrated a coup to protect Western oil interests. This intervention led to the installation of a pro-Western regime, highlighting how economic interests can drive foreign policy decisions that contradict democratic values.

Hickel also notes that wealthy democracies often externalize the violence required to maintain their economic systems, allowing them to uphold human rights domestically while supporting conflicts abroad. This externalization enables the continuation of capital accumulation without domestic disruption.

The economist emphasizes that addressing this issue requires more than electing different leaders; it necessitates organized, sustained public pressure to realign political priorities with democratic values over capital interests.