The genuine peripheralisation and plunder of Ukraine, it can be seen, has been carried out by the advanced capitalism of the West. In these circumstances, arguments designed to blame Russia for Ukraine’s economic dilemmas over the years are distracting and unhelpful.
It is a remarkable example of moral degradation to call an unfair trade relationship “plunder” when the country this author is making apologia for has actually invaded, destroyed cities, murdered thousands and actually, literally plundered Ukraine, and not in figurative terms.
The relations of core-periphery are a phenomenon that deserves to be taken seriously, not to be used as a use-and-throw-away talking point when you’re out of arguments to defend your preferred imperial power.