Nowadays I see the term "deep-state" bandied about by writers who apparently have little idea of what it is, but they use it anyway likely because they want to impress readers that they have special knowledge. Often they use it as a synonym for the "intelligence" (spy) services which are spying on everyone including Americans. Hopkins actually defines what he means by the term.
The deep state, of course, is not a conspiracy. It is simply the interdependent network of structures where actual power resides (i.e., the military-industrial complex, multinational corporations, Wall Street, the corporate media, and so on). Its purpose is to maintain the stability of the system regardless of which party controls the government. These are the folks, when a president takes office, who show up and brief him on what is and isn’t “possible” given economic and political “realities.” .... It is a collection of military and intelligence officers, CEOs, corporate lobbyists, lawyers, bankers, politicians, power brokers, aides, advisers, and assorted other permanent members of the government and the corporate and financial classes. Just as presidents come and go, so do the individuals comprising the deep state, albeit on a longer rotation schedule. And, thus, it is not a monolithic entity. Like any other decentralized network, it contains contradictions, conflicts of interest. However, what remains a constant is the deep state’s commitment to preserving the system … which, in our case, that system is global Capitalism.He continues on by using the term in many different contexts. but then he makes this sarcastic statement which I believe confuses the issue.
...this is a time for all loyal Americans to set aside their critical thinking and support democracy, the corporate media, and the NSA, and CIA, and the rest of the deep state (which doesn’t exist) as they take whatever measures are necessary to defend us from Putin’s diabolical plot to Nazify the United States and reenact the Holocaust for no discernible reason.So, apparently the surveillance services and corporate media are not a part of the "deep state" as he uses the term. Logically it follows that the latter function independent of his definition of the "deep state". If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.
Also, his definition declares that the "deep state, of course, is not a conspiracy". "Conspiracy" is also a confusing term, but most dictionary definitions declare that it means...
An agreement between two or more persons to engage jointly in an unlawful or criminal act ....However, what if one believes that a certain group of people plan and engage in anti-social acts through deception (lies) and/or intimidation (loss of one's job, even threats to one's life--which is illegal) to further their own interests? Some people have applied the term "conspiracy" as describing the activities of the capitalist deep state, that is, hidden organizations of capitalists that have decisive influence over government decisions. The problem is that under the system of capitalism, capitalists make the laws and select the staff (of the legal sub-system) who favor their interests of profit and power. So, what capitalists do may or may not be entirely legal, but they rather easily get away with their planned activities anyway.
In an otherwise good article, I fault Hopkins for engaging in a bit of hubris by so glibly writing about the deep state. It is a major part of one grand deception engaged in by a socioeconomic class of people who benefit from the system of capitalism which provides them with so much wealth and power. Critical people throughout the history of the deep state have been striving to understand how this mysterious, deceptive system works, and there is no one who has a perfect understanding.
