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 [0xc000b626c0 0xc001d7fc20 0xc000426a50 0xc0004de270 0xc0004dfd40 0xc000c6bd10 0xc000393ce0 0xc0004fdc50 0xc000579a70 0xc0001bf200 0xc00053d290 0xc00067ee10 0xc000db7a40 0xc000f6e000 0xc000f930e0 0xc000367110 0xc000b49e60 0xc000146a20 0xc0006d0ae0 0xc00070d7a0 0xc0007d2e10 0xc00084cc00 0xc00084ddd0 0xc00087acc0 0xc0008a3440 0xc0008fbf20 0xc000a7d200 0xc000a7d5c0 0xc001a33bc0 0xc001a44ea0 0xc001a45f20 0xc001a58ae0 0xc001a58ea0 0xc001a599e0 0xc001ab1d70 0xc001c419e0 0xc001e49530 0xc00023c090 0xc00023d530 0xc00168a0c0 0xc001ab3e90 0xc0010e9cb0 0xc000ff95f0 0xc00112c3f0 0xc002595ce0 0xc0025d3290 0xc0027de750] 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