George Monbiot

foreign affairs

The Empire Strikes Back
Imperialism did almost as much harm to the ruling nations as it did to their subject peoples. Read more – ‘The Empire Strikes Back’.
See No Evil
How did genocide denial become a doctrine of the internationalist left? Read more – ‘See No Evil’.
Correspondence with Noam Chomsky
This is supporting material for the article See No Evil. Read more – ‘Correspondence with Noam Chomsky’.
Genocide Denial: Expert Assessments
This is supporting material for the article See No Evil. Read more – ‘Genocide Denial: Expert Assessments’.
Blotting Out the Past
This is my reply to a former colonial official denying British atrocities in Kenya Read more – ‘Blotting Out the Past’.
Dark Hearts
We British have a peculiar ability to blot out our colonial history. Read more – ‘Dark Hearts’.
A Gun to Your Head
Should wider sanctions be imposed on Syria? Read more – ‘A Gun to Your Head’.
Media Cleanse
How a group which claims to defend human rights turned into an apologist for genocidaires and ethnic cleansers. Read more – ‘Media Cleanse’.
Do As We Say, Not As We Do
My letter to Media Lens over the issue of the massacre at Srebrenica. Read more – ‘Do As We Say, Not As We Do’.
Naming the Genocide Deniers
The right-wing denial of the genocides in Bosnia and Rwanda is bad enough; the new left-wing denial is even worse. Read more – ‘Naming the Genocide Deniers’.
War With the Ghosts
What are our nuclear weapons for, and who controls them? Read more – ‘War With the Ghosts’.
Lost in the System
What has happened to Bush’s secret prisoners? Read more – ‘Lost in the System’.
Playing in the Rough
Why won’t Gary Player answer my questions about apartheid and evictions? Read more – ‘Playing in the Rough’.
The Junta’s Accomplices
If you want to support democracy in Burma, phone Gary Player and the other western businessmen propping up the generals. Read more – ‘The Junta’s Accomplices’.
Without Principle
New revelations show that Blair’s government is as corrupt as any of those it criticises. Read more – ‘Without Principle’.
In the Company of Wolves
The members of the Council of Europe have agreed to overlook each other’s abuses. Read more – ‘In the Company of Wolves’.
The Generals’ War
In victory or in defeat, the military leaders who dominate Israeli politics can’t lose. Read more – ‘The Generals’ War’.
Israel’s Attack Was Premeditated
Hizbullah’s capture of Israeli soldiers provided the excuse for an assault planned for months. Read more – ‘Israel’s Attack Was Premeditated’.
The King of Fairyland
Bush’s view of the Middle East rests on pure fantasy. Read more – ‘The King of Fairyland’.
A Well of Hypocrisy
One man uses gas and oil money to help the poor. The other uses it to buy guns. Guess who gets vilified. Read more – ‘A Well of Hypocrisy’.
How Britain Denies its Holocausts
Why do so few people know about the atrocities of empire? Read more – ‘How Britain Denies its Holocausts’.
Bards of the Powerful
Far from challenging the G8′s role in Africa’s poverty, Geldof and Bono are legitimising its power. Read more – ‘Bards of the Powerful’.
Spin, Lies and Corruption
The G8’s debt reduction plan is little better than an extortion racket Read more – ‘Spin, Lies and Corruption’.
Pedigree Dogs of War
Some people who engage in foreign conflicts are called terrorists. Others are about to be licensed by the government Read more – ‘Pedigree Dogs of War’.
Killing vs Helping
Bush and Blair no longer seem able to see the difference. Read more – ‘Killing vs Helping’.
A Deadly Reversal
Why does no one care that the world’s worst conflict has broken out again? Read more – ‘A Deadly Reversal’.
Exploitation on Tap
Why is Britain using its aid money to persuade South Africa to privatise its public services? Read more – ‘Exploitation on Tap’.
Adventure playground
Africans have good reason to be suspicious of British involvement in their affairs Read more – ‘Adventure playground’.
Empire of Denial
My old housemate has devised a new and terrifying myth of power Read more – ‘Empire of Denial’.
This Is What We Paid For
Britain’s foreign aid has been used to bankroll a programme for mass starvation Read more – ‘This Is What We Paid For’.
Apocalypse Please
US policy towards the Middle East is driven by a rarefied form of madness. It’s time we took it seriously. Read more – ‘Apocalypse Please’.
Victim’s Licence
Our fairytale version of Rwanda’s genocide has allowed us to overlook the government’s own crimes against humanity Read more – ‘Victim’s Licence’.
On the Edge of Lunacy
British foreign aid is being directed to countries willing to sell off their assets to big business Read more – ‘On the Edge of Lunacy’.
Tony Blair’s New Friend
He made the moral case for war – but backs a dictator who boils prisoners to death Read more – ‘Tony Blair’s New Friend’.
Fake Patriots
Why does the right refuse to see that US power has become a threat to our sovereignty? Read more – ‘Fake Patriots’.
Blair Trashes Africa
Tony Blair has just ensured that Europe and the US continue to promote famine. Read more – ‘Blair Trashes Africa’.
Don’t Cry for Clare
Short’s career as a licensed rebel casts light on our post-oppositional, post-modern politics Read more – ‘Don’t Cry for Clare’.
A War of Terror
The men who claim to be fighting “evil” on behalf of “good” are also funding one of the world’s dirtiest wars Read more – ‘A War of Terror’.
Our Racist Demonology
Robert Mugabe is portrayed as the prince of darkness, but when whites expel black people from their lands, nobody gives a damn. Read more – ‘Our Racist Demonology’.
The Logic of Empire
The United States is now our foremost enemy. We must begin to treat it as such. Read more – ‘The Logic of Empire’.
Moral Flight
Bush and Blair, who made so much of their “leadership” when there was a war to be fought, are nowhere to be seen when peace is needed. Read more – ‘Moral Flight’.
World Bank to West Bank
The movement written off after September 11 is demonstrating its worth in Palestine Read more – ‘World Bank to West Bank’.
Hell’s Grannies
British women are using themselves as human shields in Israel, and they put the rest of us to shame Read more – ‘Hell’s Grannies’.
Europe’s Dirty War
The European Union is funding Plan Colombia Read more – ‘Europe’s Dirty War’.
We Share the Blame for Zimbabwe
Britain’s Debt to its People Runs into Billions Read more – ‘We Share the Blame for Zimbabwe’.
Reservoir of Sleaze
The British Government is underwriting Turkey’s ethnic cleansing programme. Read more – ‘Reservoir of Sleaze’.
Short Shrift for the World’s Poor
Clare Short, the international development secretary, is selling poor countries down the river Read more – ‘Short Shrift for the World’s Poor’.
Depraved Debt Collectors
It’s time to disband the murderous Export Credit Guarantee Department Read more – ‘Depraved Debt Collectors’.
A Laughing Soldier with a Razor Blade
How the West has licensed Indonesia’s reign of terror Read more – ‘A Laughing Soldier with a Razor Blade’.
Human Sacrifice
West Papua, in Indonesia, is being surrended for the sake of geopolitics Read more – ‘Human Sacrifice’.
Hunting the Beast
I track down the police torturer who had me beaten up in 1989 Read more – ‘Hunting the Beast’.
Communist Pigs vs Capitalist Pigs
Only by killing all of Haiti’s pigs could the US force its people to abandon their self-sufficiency Read more – ‘Communist Pigs vs Capitalist Pigs’.
Beloved Country
South Africa has embarked on a brave and hazardous land reform programme Read more – ‘Beloved Country’.
Dispossessed without trace
The Brazilian press and political system is ignoring a wholesale theft of land and the murder of its people Read more – ‘Dispossessed without trace’.
The Scattering of the Dead
A disastrous project funded by the Canadian Government is destituting an African people Read more – ‘The Scattering of the Dead’.
The Maasai and the Mercedes Men
A fraudulent privatisation project is reducing the Maasai to little more than tourist dancers Read more – ‘The Maasai and the Mercedes Men’.
Keepers of the Artificial Wilderness
In East Africa, conservationists are creating a wilderness out of inhabited lands, then punishing the people they have dispossessed Read more – ‘Keepers of the Artificial Wilderness’.
Moses in the Wilderness
One man’s story might hold the key to the survival of the Maasai Read more – ‘Moses in the Wilderness’.
Collateral Damage
Local people are the real victims of the turf war between the conservation authorities in Kenya Read more – ‘Collateral Damage’.
Charity Begins at Home
Self-serving relief agencies are doing nothing to build up developing countries’ own capacity to respond Read more – ‘Charity Begins at Home’.