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 [0xc000b66330 0xc001de6d50 0xc0003ea0f0 0xc0004acd20 0xc0004ba750 0xc00057bcb0 0xc0002b2180 0xc000435da0 0xc0004c5b60 0xc000220000 0xc0005a5d70 0xc000671830 0xc000e1e450 0xc00100bfb0 0xc0010550b0 0xc0002f32c0 0xc000c94ff0 0xc0012043c0 0xc0004fdd10 0xc0005709f0 0xc0005c3d70 0xc00064f980 0xc00066ab70 0xc00066b830 0xc0006a1bf0 0xc00076a390 0xc0007ef140 0xc0007ef500 0xc001970f30 0xc0019821e0 0xc001983200 0xc001983d70 0xc001996120 0xc001996ba0 0xc0019e8930 0xc001b7a240 0xc001cf2d50 0xc001ef9650 0xc001f22b10 0xc001502c60 0xc00160c720 0xc0022242a0 0xc000c333e0 0xc000d8c0f0 0xc002184f60 0xc0021f04e0 0xc00269f1a0] 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