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 [0xc000bda450 0xc001d63350 0xc0003c50e0 0xc0004785a0 0xc000488060 0xc00242eff0 0xc000311d70 0xc000481aa0 0xc00050d890 0xc0002ae870 0xc00066e840 0xc000774330 0xc000dd4d20 0xc000f31f50 0xc000f8d200 0xc0002f1950 0xc000d1c1b0 0xc0000c9d40 0xc0006bfbc0 0xc0007428a0 0xc0007cbd70 0xc000875b00 0xc0008becf0 0xc0008bf9b0 0xc0008fde00 0xc00096e5d0 0xc000a153e0 0xc000a157a0 0xc00196fa40 0xc001980cf0 0xc001981d10 0xc0019948a0 0xc001994c30 0xc0019956e0 0xc0019e94a0 0xc001b7f080 0xc001d1bc80 0xc001e51650 0xc001e5eb10 0xc0015a2b40 0xc0016968d0 0xc00217e7b0 0xc000bc9a10 0xc000d807e0 0xc0020bda40 0xc002126ff0 0xc00269a150] 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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