Deterring Democracy
Encyclopedia
Deterring Democracy is a book published in 1992 by Noam Chomsky
, which explores the differences between the humanitarian rhetoric
and imperialistic reality of United States
foreign policy and how it affects various countries around the world.
In the book, Chomsky explores the idea that the US is the only remaining world superpower that works to maintain its dominance, even ruthlessly employing violence such as outright invasions and overthowing governments pursuing independent economic policies. He also discusses the large difference between public opinion on the Cold War
, establishment American educated opinion and reality.
The book also contains criticism aimed at the Soviet Union
and other communist states, but makes a major point to the fact that if the United States really supported "freedom" in the cold war, then why did it still support authoritarian regimes? The conclusion that Chomsky comes to is that the U.S did not really care about supporting freedom, but rather maintaining dominance over resources and geopolitical power.
Noam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and...
, which explores the differences between the humanitarian rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
and imperialistic reality of United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
foreign policy and how it affects various countries around the world.
In the book, Chomsky explores the idea that the US is the only remaining world superpower that works to maintain its dominance, even ruthlessly employing violence such as outright invasions and overthowing governments pursuing independent economic policies. He also discusses the large difference between public opinion on the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, establishment American educated opinion and reality.
The book also contains criticism aimed at the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and other communist states, but makes a major point to the fact that if the United States really supported "freedom" in the cold war, then why did it still support authoritarian regimes? The conclusion that Chomsky comes to is that the U.S did not really care about supporting freedom, but rather maintaining dominance over resources and geopolitical power.
Structure
- Cold War: Fact and Fancy
- The Home Front
- The Global System
- Problems of Population Control
- The Post-Cold War Era
- Nefarious Aggression
- The Victors
- The Agenda of the Doves: 1988
- The Mortal Sin of Self-Defense
- The Decline of the Democratic Ideal
- Democracy in the Industrial Societies
- Force and Opinion
External links
- Deterring Democracy, full text