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. 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 CX6447 1 true true false CX6447.htm [0xc000b4e750 0xc001a8e5a0 0xc000421ce0 0xc0004dd590 0xc0004ef080 0xc001dbd950 0xc0002df140 0xc000467110 0xc0004daf90 0xc0002c5c50 0xc0006700f0 0xc000795c80 0xc000d11740 0xc000125c20 0xc0001bad20 0xc000483a10 0xc001002810 0xc0002b1e60 0xc0008e0120 0xc00091ede0 0xc0009ae450 0xc000a4a300 0xc000a4b4d0 0xc000a703c0 0xc000aaab40 0xc000b33650 0xc000c42960 0xc000c42d20 0xc00169f8f0 0xc0016c4bd0 0xc0016c5ce0 0xc0016e68d0 0xc0016e6c90 0xc0016e77d0 0xc0018abb90 0xc001a438f0 0xc001d145d0 0xc0000fd320 0xc0001947e0 0xc0017296e0 0xc00181f620 0xc002417950 0xc000f708a0 0xc001009770 0xc002395530 0xc00240ab70 0xc0027ea450] 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

Necessary IllusionsThought Control in Democratic Societies

Subject Headings

Necessary Illusions
Thought Control in Democratic Societies