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Documentary seeks to show origins of economic crisis


A new documentary on the economic crisis by British director Michael Winterbottom points the finger squarely at free-market economist Milton Friedman Noun 1. Milton Friedman - United States economist noted as a proponent of monetarism and for his opposition to government intervention in the economy (born in 1912)
Friedman
 for the global meltdown.

"The Shock Doctrine", based on the book by Canadian journalist Naomi Klein Naomi Klein is a Canadian journalist, author and activist well known for her political analyses of corporate globalization.

Klein was born in Montreal, Quebec. Her family has a history of activism, as does her husband's family.
, relates the development of "disaster capitalism", or the alleged use by governments and multinationals of conflict situations such as the 2004 tsunami in Asia, the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area.  and the war in Iraq.

The film, initially made for British television British television broadcasting has a range of different broadcasters, broadcasting multiple channels over a variety of distribution media. Major broadcasters
There are six major broadcasters: Free-to-air analogue terrestrial networks
, received its first showing outside the country at the San Sebastian film festival in northern Spain on Wednesday.

The documentary, put together from archived film footage, animation and extracts from a conference given by Klein, seeks to show how Friedman's free market theories have always needed some kind of "shock" or an exceptional situation to be put in practice without popular protests.

"The Shock Doctrine" in particular condemns the United States for having encouraged the 1973-1990 Chilean dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte[1] (November 25, 1915 – December 10, 2006) was President of Chile from 1974 to 1990, and head of the military junta from 1973 to 1974.  to introduce the doctrines of Friedman, who won the 1976 Nobel prize Nobel Prize, award given for outstanding achievement in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, peace, or literature. The awards were established by the will of Alfred Nobel, who left a fund to provide annual prizes in the five areas listed above.  for economics.

It charges that Chilean authorities, along with Argentina's military junta Noun 1. military junta - a group of military officers who rule a country after seizing power
junta

clique, coterie, ingroup, inner circle, camp, pack - an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
, needed the spectre of communism and disappearances to stir up a climate of fear that led to the new policies.

In the same way, it alleges former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher needed the Falkands War in 1982 to implement her policies of privatizations.

"It's important to know something of your history, to know how the world became what it is," Winterbottom told a news conference.

"I don't think it's propaganda, I think it's an argument, I mean, within the film you see Friedman's argument, it's the opposite argument to Naomi's argument," said the director, who made the docudrama "The Road to Guantanamo" about three British detainees at the US detention camp in Cuba.
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright (c) Mochila, Inc.

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Author:AFP
Publication:AFP Global Edition
Date:Sep 23, 2009
Words:301
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Documentary seeks to show origins of economic crisis

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