Necessary Illusions
Thought Control in Democratic Societies

Chomsky, Noam
Publisher:  Anansi, Toronto, Canada
Year First Published:  {12307 Necessary Illusions NECESSARY ILLUSIONS Thought Control in Democratic Societies Chomsky, Noam Anansi Toronto Canada An inquiry into the nature of the media and the role of intellectuals in "a political system where the population cannot be disciplined by force, and thus must be subjected to more subtle forms of ideological control." 1989 1991 424pp $14.95 BC12307-NecessaryIllusion.jpg B Book 0-88784-519-3 P95.8.C56 1991 302.234 Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies contains modified versions of the five 1988 Massey lectures delivered by Noam Chomsky over Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio. The five lectures are sorted into five different chapters, with appendices, divided according to chapter, acting as detailed footnotes. The lectures cover less than half of the book, the greater part of it is devoted to the appendices which include chapters titled "The U.S. and Costa Rican Democracy," "The 'Peace Process' in the Middle East," "The Sanctity of Borders," and "The Media and International Opinion." Overall, the book is an inquiry into the nature of the media and the role of intellectuals in "a political system where the population cannot be disciplined by force, and thus must be subjected to more subtle forms of ideological control." Specific examples are given, mostly from the U.S. media but some from media in other societies too. <br> <br>A professor of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Noam Chomsky is an internationally acclaimed linguistics scholar, author and political radical. The material in this particular book has been motivated by his belief that "citizens of the democratic societies should undertake a course of intellectual self-defense to protect themselves from manipulation and control, and to lay the basis for more meaningful democracy". <br> <br>[Abstract by Nabeeha Chaudhary] <br> <br> <br> <br>Table of Contents <br> <br>Preface <br> <br>1. Democracy and the Media <br>2. Containing the Enemy <br>3. The Bounds of the Expressible <br>4. Adjuncts of Government <br>5. The Utility of Interpretations <br> <br>Appendix I <br>1. The Propaganda Model: Some Methodological Considerations <br>2. On Critical Balance <br> <br>Appendix II <br>1. The Containment Doctrine <br>2. The Red Scare <br> <br>Appendix III <br>1. The Sanctity of Borders <br> <br>Appendix IV <br>1. The Craft of "Historical Engineering" <br>2. The Obligation of Silence <br>3. The Summits <br>4. The Media and the International Opinion <br>5. Demolishing the Accords <br> <br>Appendix V <br>1. The U.S. and Costa Rican Democracy <br>2. "The Evil Scourge of Terrorism" <br>3. Heroes and Devils <br>4. The "Peace Process" in the Middle East <br>5. The Best Defense <br>6. La Prensa and its Colleagues <br>7. "The Courage to Preserve Civil Liberties" <br>8. The Continuing Struggle <br> <br>Notes <br>Index CX6447 1 true true false CX6447.htm [0xc000c9d1d0 0xc0020fc060 0xc00037acf0 0xc0004855c0 0xc000494c00 0xc00056e630 0xc0001c5260 0xc00039c210 0xc00044dcb0 0xc000b30c60 0xc000368990 0xc00045e150 0xc0007e54a0 0xc000a8c810 0xc000ac7740 0xc000f995f0 0xc00071aa50 0xc000a43710 0xc0015a4270 0xc0003ef560 0xc00149e360 0xc0014bbda0 0xc0014c8f90 0xc0014c9c50 0xc0014d7f50 0xc0000686c0 0xc000177380 0xc000177740 0xc000da8930 0xc000da9bc0 0xc000ddcc00 0xc000ddd770 0xc000dddb00 0xc000f785a0 0xc0010042d0 0xc001746c30 0xc0018333b0 0xc001968750 0xc001969b90 0xc000a19410 0xc000dacb70 0xc0016be300 0xc0026dcb40 0xc0000b6a20 0xc0010c5b90 0xc0014090b0 0xc0018cf440] Cx}
Year Published:  1991
Pages:  424pp   Price:  $14.95   ISBN:  0-88784-519-3
Library of Congress Number:  P95.8.C56 1991   Dewey:  302.234
Resource Type:  Book
Cx Number:  CX6447

An inquiry into the nature of the media and the role of intellectuals in "a political system where the population cannot be disciplined by force, and thus must be subjected to more subtle forms of ideological control."

Abstract: 
Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies contains modified versions of the five 1988 Massey lectures delivered by Noam Chomsky over Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio. The five lectures are sorted into five different chapters, with appendices, divided according to chapter, acting as detailed footnotes. The lectures cover less than half of the book, the greater part of it is devoted to the appendices which include chapters titled "The U.S. and Costa Rican Democracy," "The 'Peace Process' in the Middle East," "The Sanctity of Borders," and "The Media and International Opinion." Overall, the book is an inquiry into the nature of the media and the role of intellectuals in "a political system where the population cannot be disciplined by force, and thus must be subjected to more subtle forms of ideological control." Specific examples are given, mostly from the U.S. media but some from media in other societies too.

A professor of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Noam Chomsky is an internationally acclaimed linguistics scholar, author and political radical. The material in this particular book has been motivated by his belief that "citizens of the democratic societies should undertake a course of intellectual self-defense to protect themselves from manipulation and control, and to lay the basis for more meaningful democracy".

[Abstract by Nabeeha Chaudhary]



Table of Contents

Preface

1. Democracy and the Media
2. Containing the Enemy
3. The Bounds of the Expressible
4. Adjuncts of Government
5. The Utility of Interpretations

Appendix I
1. The Propaganda Model: Some Methodological Considerations
2. On Critical Balance

Appendix II
1. The Containment Doctrine
2. The Red Scare

Appendix III
1. The Sanctity of Borders

Appendix IV
1. The Craft of "Historical Engineering"
2. The Obligation of Silence
3. The Summits
4. The Media and the International Opinion
5. Demolishing the Accords

Appendix V
1. The U.S. and Costa Rican Democracy
2. "The Evil Scourge of Terrorism"
3. Heroes and Devils
4. The "Peace Process" in the Middle East
5. The Best Defense
6. La Prensa and its Colleagues
7. "The Courage to Preserve Civil Liberties"
8. The Continuing Struggle

Notes
Index

Subject Headings

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