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 [0xc000c7a420 0xc0016b5230 0xc0004839b0 0xc00053ee10 0xc00054e8d0 0xc002432b10 0xc0002c5a10 0xc0001a00f0 0xc0001f9ec0 0xc000c2d3e0 0xc0004272f0 0xc00054cde0 0xc000b156b0 0xc000e57080 0xc000b89710 0xc000275a70 0xc000cd3ef0 0xc00110b1d0 0xc000291050 0xc0002bfd10 0xc000343200 0xc0003def90 0xc0003fe180 0xc0003fee40 0xc000433290 0xc00047da40 0xc000532870 0xc000532c30 0xc0014dad20 0xc0014dbfb0 0xc0014f6ff0 0xc0014f7b60 0xc0014f7ef0 0xc00151e990 0xc0015b0720 0xc001c6e300 0xc001d94f00 0xc001ecc7e0 0xc001ecdc80 0xc000f1bb00 0xc0011997a0 0xc001957500 0xc000418630 0xc0004af3b0 0xc00186e4e0 0xc0018a9a70 0xc002084bd0] 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