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 [0xc000c3eba0 0xc001e703f0 0xc0004bb440 0xc000570de0 0xc00057e900 0xc0024b96e0 0xc0003e73b0 0xc0005696e0 0xc00061b650 0xc000461e30 0xc0009c9290 0xc000a6ef30 0xc00024e270 0xc000405e30 0xc000448fc0 0xc00078a180 0xc0000de7e0 0xc0003d8300 0xc000a02f00 0xc000a2bc20 0xc000ab92c0 0xc000b95200 0xc000be23f0 0xc000be32c0 0xc000c23b00 0xc000cbe630 0xc000d9d920 0xc000d9dce0 0xc001b08330 0xc001b095f0 0xc001b1c720 0xc001b1d2f0 0xc001b1d6b0 0xc001b32210 0xc001b86600 0xc001da6fc0 0xc000da9a10 0xc00215a2d0 0xc00215b800 0xc00159c510 0xc00168e810 0xc002365020 0xc0010399e0 0xc0010ecb70 0xc0022f7a40 0xc00240d1a0 0xc0027f6ea0] 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