A review of Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins

Most of us are aware of the various campaigns that are aimed at wiping out the debts of certain third-world nations. However, most of us remain in the dark with regards to both how and why these countries accumulated such massive debts in the first place. If you want to know a little more on this subject, then reading John Perkins’ Confessions of an Economic Hitman is a good place to start.

Background

Perkins book is a non-fiction account of how he was basically paid (and well paid at that) to act as the 'economic hit man' of the book’s title. In this role, he was to work closely with members of some of the prominent global financial institutions such as IMF and the World Bank. Massive loans and lies To be more specific, his role involved travelling to developing countries where he would offer them massive loans that they could use to develop their infrastructures. At the same time, he would give them hugely exaggerated predictions of the economic growth that these developments would bring about. Contractors that were mainly from the US would then begin to build whatever part of the infrastructures that the country needed. However, their economy would naturally not reach the level of growth that had been promised and they would find themselves having to default on the loan, leaving them perpetually in debt to the US.

Resignation

Perkins was eventually to resign from this position in the 90s; no longer being able to support his role within an organisation that was, as he explains, effectively building a massively wealthy international empire by taking advantage of the less well-off and disadvantaged people throughout the world. Sometime after he handed his resignation, he began work on the book that went under the working title of 'Conscience of Economic Hitmen'.

The book

The book is full of intriguing, fascinating and, it has to be said, rather dismaying stories and information. If you were ever in any doubt about some of the underhand and stomach-turning exploits that really go on behind the pretence that is reserved for the general media, then after reading this book you certainly won't be. Style While it is true to say that the book could have been better written, the style of writing is perhaps determined by the fact that this is essentially a confessional and non-fictional book. However, on the whole Confessions of an Economic Hitman is an absorbing read. The fast-paced narrative combined with the prevalent air of international and political intrigue often makes you forget that the book is non-fictional rather than a carefully constructed, fictional suspense thriller.
Author's note Highly recommended.