I've read two of her books. She is FABULOUS. I sometimes wonder how there are so many american citizens who can't write/speak/think so prosaically as this native Indian (red dot indian).

Arundhati Roy continues right from where she left off (actually she never has) in The Algebra of Infinite Justice. This time, contexts and facts get repeated in essays, and that might put you off, but that should not take away from the messages.
An Ordinary Person’s Guide to Empire, published in 2004, a couple of years after the other book, consists of 14 articles written between June 2002 and November 2004. The theme of the book is the working of the Empire, not the traditional imperial one built on a smattering of trade and an all powerful military, but the more modern, relatively more subtle one with many simultaneous strategies - 'neoliberal capitalism' aided by the IMF, World Bank etc, corporate globalization spearheaded by multinational corporations, and finally a healthy dose of good old state sponsored military might. As Roy writes, add oil and mix. Not to forget the media, that makes the entire effort come out smelling of roses. "In this era of crisis reportage, if you don't have a crisis to call your own, you're not in the news. And if you're not in the news, you don't exist. It's as though the virtual world constructed in the media has become more real than the real world."
A lot of the conversation is around Iraq, where the latest version of the above drama is being played out, but in many essays there are historical references of how the US has honed its 'process' through various wars it has fought. Creating, funding and then making a huge hue and cry over eliminating armies/heads of state who step out of line. Saddam being the latest. A series of acts that had spawned and now fuels a global threat - terrorism. Two opposing camps feeding off each other. "Al Qaida vs Al Fayda".
But the story is global, from the police in Kerala displaying the tribals' bows and arrows as dangerous ammunition to encounter killings from Mumbai to Kashmir to Andhra Pradesh and indiscriminate and illegal uses of POTA to state sponsored terrorism in Gujarat and hunting down Maoists in Jharkand. The story is also of how democracy is just a process of 'cyclical manipulation" We really have no choice.
It gets scary when she writes how "Modern democracies have been around for long enough for neo-liberal capitalists to learn how to subvert them. They have mastered the technique of infiltrating the instruments of democracy-the "independent" judiciary, the "free" press, the parliament-and molding them to their purpose. The project of corporate globalization has cracked the code. Free elections, a free press, and an independent judiciary mean little when the free market has reduced them to commodities available on sale to the highest bidder."
And somewhere in all this, is the thread of the slow attrition of the concept of justice, especially for the poor and the powerless. "... for most people in the world, peace is war - a daily battle against hunger, thirst, and the violation of their dignity." The saddest one is about the man in Hasud, a town that was supposed to be 'relocated' entirely, courtesy a dam. The man was given a cheque of Rs.25000 as compensation for demolishing his hut. Thrice he went to the town in a bus to cash it. Then his money ran out, and he walked, miles and miles, on his wooden leg. "The bank sent him away and asked him to come after three days."
Roy has her critics, and she might have many faults, but it is when she brings out such incidents that I feel she is doing justice to the written word and her skill with it. For this reason, do take time to read it.

The book makes me wonder why do we envision a nightmarish dystopia in a non fiction when it is already here.

A strong book from a strong woman. Focusing on the increasing divide between the haves and have-nots (and the fall out from that), the author obliges us to acknowledge our responsibility in being part of the problem or part of the solution. She writes so intelligently and clearly that it's like seeing a flashing neon sign: "Wake up!"

An Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire - A Thought-Provoking Critique of Global Power

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

An Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire by Arundhati Roy is a thought-provoking exploration of the dynamics of global power and its far-reaching consequences. Roy, known for her incisive commentary, presents a critique of empire that challenges conventional narratives and offers an alternative perspective on the complex issues of our time.

The book is a collection of essays and speeches that span various global events and issues, from the war on terror to the corporate takeover of natural resources. Roy's writing is characterized by its passionate and unapologetic tone, which is both its strength and its potential drawback.

Roy's work is a stark reminder of the unequal distribution of power and resources in the world, and she does not shy away from pointing out the abuses of this power. Her critique of empire is grounded in a passionate defense of the marginalized and oppressed. Her commitment to social justice is evident throughout the book, making it a compelling read for those who share her concerns.

However, the passionate tone that drives the narrative can also be a hindrance for some readers. Roy's unapologetic stance and her sharp criticisms may alienate those who do not share her worldview. While the book is intended to challenge conventional narratives, it risks preaching to the choir, as readers who do not already align with Roy's views may be put off by her uncompromising style.

Furthermore, the collection covers a wide range of topics, and some essays may resonate more with readers than others. The thematic diversity may lead to inconsistencies in engagement and interest throughout the book.

In conclusion, An Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire is a compelling critique of global power and its impact on the world's most vulnerable populations. Arundhati Roy's passionate and unapologetic writing style makes her voice a powerful force in advocating for social justice and political change. However, this same passion can be a double-edged sword, potentially limiting the book's appeal to a broader readership. If you are open to a challenging and thought-provoking exploration of global issues, this book offers a valuable alternative perspective that is worth engaging with.

Arundhati Roy argues in a clear, forceful, and memorable style, and she studs her writing with wonderfully pungent metaphors and insightful connections between seemingly unrelated topics and ideas. Roy is especially perceptive in her discussions of how racial and religious prejudice intersect with hypercapitalist corporate agendas. Her critiques center around the brash imperialism of the U.S. government, the intractable and often bloodthirsty corruption of the Indian government, the tragedy of South Africa which threw off the yoke of apartheid in the 90s only to be felled by extractive neoliberal "structural reform" shortly thereafter, and the gruesome and often surreal Orwellian carving up of Iraq circa the U.S. invasion in 2003.

Though these pieces are focused almost exclusively on the current events of the world of ten years ago, unfortunately much of what she discusses here remains all too relevant today. From some perspectives one could argue the world is less dystopic now than during the Bush era. Full throated U.S. imperialism is by some measures on the wane, newly ascendent movements are fighting and often winning in the struggle against age old prejudices (not to mention some promising - though still nascent - movements for labor rights and economic justice), and discontent with elites seems more widespread than ever and even translates into action sometimes.

However, the particularly virulent and rapacious strain of capitalism that came out of the 1980s seems by some measure to be as strong as ever even in the face of an increasingly uncooperative biosphere and restive populace, and the surreal media echo chamber of the 2000s has been overtaken by a potentially even more dangerous and frightening all encompassing surveillance culture that is maybe more democratic but is definitely more intrusive and dystopian in many ways. And whatever your feelings on the always interesting subject of Barack Obama, there's little question that the new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a far right wing nationalist, elected to office despite being complicit in the 2002 pogrom of Muslims in Gujarat. And Modi governs far more people than Obama at least by official measures.

Which brings me to my ignorance of the politics, history and culture of India. This book (along with some recent articles I've read by Amartya Sen) has begun to alleviate that ignorance, which is admittedly quite vast. While not meant as a primer on Indian politics, the book does work well as a jumping off point to begin to understand India in how it parallels and diverges from political scenes elsewhere that may be more familiar to a Western readership.

Serbest piyasa ulusal egemenliği tehdit etmez, sadece demokrasinin altını oyar... Büyük şirketlerin yönlendirdiği küresel-leşme, yetiştirdiğimiz ekinleri, içtiğimiz suyu, soluduğumuz havayı ve hayallerimizi 'tatlı dilli anlaşmalar aracılığıyla' şirketleştirebilmek için, daha yoksul ülkelerde, sevilmeyen reformları yürüten ve ayaklanmaları bastıran baskıcı hükümetlerin oluşturduğu sadık, kokuşmuş bir uluslararası konfederasyona ihtiyaç duyuyor.

Bu kitap, Arundhati Roy'un 2002-2004 yılları arasında yazdığı çeşitli gazete ve dergi yazıları, kitap ön sözleri, yaptığı konuşmalar bir araya getirilerek oluşturulmuş bir derleme. Emperyalizm, küreselleşme, demokrasi gibi konularda ufuk açıcı yazılar içeriyor. Kitaptaki atıflar sayesinde bu konularda güzel bir kaynakça da edinmiş oluyorsunuz. Sizi başka kitaplar, yazılar, yazarlar ile tanıştıran dolu bir kitap.

Thank you for the perspective Aurndathi Roy! This books literally dragged me out of my comfortable, naive, middle-class-acceptable view of the world that I live in. The very nature of society as I see it started to morph. I do not have to agree with everything she says or recommends but I definitely changed my world view. A must read.

This book is Noam Chomsky except funny and interesting instead of horribly dry. Highly recommended.

"Modern democracies have been around for long enough for neo-liberal capitalists to learn how to subvert them. They have mastered the technique of infiltrating the instruments of democracy-- the 'independent' judiciary, the 'free' press, the parliment-- and molding them to their purpose. The project of corporate globalization has cracked the code. Free elections, a free press, and an independent judiciary mean little when the free market has reduced them to commodities available ton sale to the highest bidder."

arundhati roy's incisive analysis of globalization, trade policy, and the state of the state in india is bold, brave, and unique. i read this book when i was in india, and it gave me invaluable and hard-to-find information on how poor people continue to struggle for rights, government accountability, and even basic services in 'the world's fastest-growing economy'. an inspiring read that reminds you another world IS possible.

didn’t intend to read this this week, it was very helpful in a lot of ways. “the only way to make democracy real is to begin a process of constant questioning, permanent provocation, and continuous public conversation between citizens and the state. that conversation is quite different from the conversation between political parties.”

I may be the only person who didn't adore The God of Small Things. But everything I found overworked about Roy's fictional prose works wonderfully in this collection of her activist speeches - her quirky metaphors serve the clarifying anger with which she addresses a wide range of political topics instead of undermining it, and her command of cadence maintains the flow of a speech as her evidence accummulates. I can even forgive the Capitalization of Important Phrases. Her indictment of the Iraq war was thorough - and accurate - from the beginning, and I didn't know that Enron managed to cause devastation in India until I read her analysis of its hydroelectric industry. She conflates the global implications of a deregulated economy with the effects of sectarian violence, which she identifies as fascist, in a sometimes confusing manner. But she handles the primary challenge of an activist speech - the speech's need to resolve itself in rhetorical terms after analysis and indictment while still encouraging practical action against an overwhelming opponent - with aplomb.