Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy by Noam Chomsky (PDF)

Description

The United States asserts the right to use military force against ‘failed states’ around the globe. But as Noam Chomsky argues in this devastating analysis, America shares features with many of the regimes it insists are failing and constitute a danger to their neighbours. Offering a comprehensive and radical examination of America past and present, Chomsky shows how this lone superpower – which topples foreign governments, invades states that threaten its interests and imposes sanctions on regimes it opposes – has stretched its own democratic institutions to breaking point. And how an America in crisis places the world ever closer to the brink of nuclear and environmental disaster.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐I disagree with the vast majority of Noam’s points of view. However I think this is an excellent book for any non-liberal to read as it provides insights into a mode of thinking to which I’m not accustom.I give the author credit as he cites his points exhaustively, however the vast majority of his citations are quotes from political pun-dents that support his points, as opposed to citing sources of fact. There is a huge difference between quoting my neighbor stating “that program is a waste of time” and quoting the congressional budget office stating “That program cost $16 billion and produced two jobs.” VERY roughly 70-80% of Noam’s citations are quotes and the remaining citations are fact. A few times he makes key assertions (ie Agent XYZ, a known terrorist, was running guns in ABC, for the US) without a supporting citation. Many times he quotes facts supporting misdeeds, and they are painful to read.My opinion differs significantly from the author in the role of the US. I think the role of ANY government (US, North Korea, Iran, Russia, China) is to assure the safety and prosperity of its people. While it would be nice, it is not the role of any of the governments to promote the equality of the world– by definition governments operate in their own self interest first, and other’s second.I also disagree with another of the author’s somewhat unstated assumption. Frequently, I interpret the author’s thesis to be “If the US had not done X bad thing, the world would be a beautiful place because China and Russia are fundamentally “good”. My view would be “The US did X bad thing in its own self interest prior to China or Russia taking advantage to do Y in their own self interest.”

⭐Chomsky is both one of the most influential and most vilified intellectuals in the United States. That’s what happens when you speak truth to power as he does. There is no need to agree with his entire philosophy (I certainly don’t) in order to appreciate this book. While the style is a bit dry, the message is powerful and relentless. Contrary to well engrained mythology, the United States has not – generally speaking – been a force for democratic change across the world, only for the kind of change that served its own interests as a colonial power. Some of the times those interests have been furthered by helping democracies, in many other occasions American support went to thugs and dictators because they were pursuing US-friendly policies. Americans are so deluded by their own media and government imposed narrative that they are genuinely astonished when they find out that other people’s opinion of the United States isn’t so positive or charitable. And no, “they” don’t hate us because of our freedoms. Chomsky’s book is a must read for anyone seriously interested in international politics and the role played by the US in it. It is largely a bleak book, that may leave you with the impression that there isn’t much any of us can do about the sorry state of affairs of the planet. However, there are some interesting and somewhat surprising rays of hope. Like the repeated careful documentation by Chomsky of the fact that while the American government often takes anti-democratic and anti-liberty positions, both internationally and internally, the people of the United States of America are far more progressive, sensible and generous than one would suppose: poll after poll show that Americans want a stronger social net at home, less military involvement abroad, and a much stronger United Nations, more independent from American hegemony through the (so-called) Security Council. Indeed, the wide gap between the will of the American people and the actions of the American government is astounding. And is what increasingly qualifies the USA as a “failed state” in a deep and disturbing way.

⭐Noam Chomsky turns the table on conventional wisdom by claiming that the state most in need of democratic intervention is the United States itself. His basic premise is that the United States government is controlled more by corporate interests than by the people. Government policies are driven by the needs of corporate giants.To back up this claim, Chomsky looks at America’s history of democracy promotion going all the way back to Latin American interventions at the beginning of the 20th century. Time and time again the picture that appears is that of an America that actually crushes governments chosen by the people in favor of supporting rightist dictators. According to Chomsky, the American government is all for the rhetoric of promoting democracy, but as soon as democracy threatens American business interests, it all goes out the window. By looking at the history of democracy promotion, it seems that democracy in the world is actually bad for business from an American standpoint.This book will really make you think about government policies. In the end, it is important to practice what you preach. If the government believes in the power of democracy, then it should follow-through on developing it rather than catering to business interests. By throwing democracy out the window, we’re actually making the world a more dangerous place to live in.

⭐Failed States calls into question much of what I learned about US history in university and quite a bit of what I’ve read in the news since. It argues, convincingly, with mountains of evidence, that the United States government repeatedly sabotages democracy in the name of democracy – almost everywhere.To this end, Chomsky is relentless, but so very compelling. He starts with ideas of social equality, fairness, fundamental decency, and other common, normal tenets involving basic morality, and goes on to illustrate how Washington (along with London) and its client states (e.g. Israel) care little about decency, morality, etc. and how it repeatedly works to screw this world up. The existence of anti-American extremism in certain parts of the world, and more thoughtful forms of dissent, seem entirely natural given the United States’s recurrent brutality and disdain for fundamental fairness, human rights, etc. I’ve read about Chomsky’s contributions to linguistics (i.e. universal grammar) and have listened to him YouTube a lot, but reading him talk about politics was impressive. It was also distressing and depressing. How messed up is this world? Even more than you think. Still, I think everyone should read this book. I can’t recommend it enough. I will read Chomsky again. Failed States is dark but brilliant.Troy Parfitt is the author of Why China Will Never Rule the World

⭐When history is crafted in the service of power, evidence and rationality are irrelevant.Hazrat Chomsky is very popular with Pakistani literati and for good reason, as he presents the other aspects of the momentous world events which together makes the story somewhat complete.Consider the very obvious and rational argument, the top nation of the world, número uno country of the world, the mighty USA, misbehaving, openly flaunting, imperiously rejecting all international laws it expects rogue and terrorist nations of the world to follow. Trouble is, USA and its foreign policies are the main reason why countries like North Korea and Iran are in their current state, as every country in the world will consciously or subconsciously follow the leader, copying its every move and behaviours. Unfortunately for the world, USA will not change, why should it? Why change a strategy which has got it at the top slot. All the world has to do now is wait for an able contender for the throne. In the meantime writers like Chomsky will have a field day arguing to their lefty brothers. The book makes completing reading though.Check for yourself…..’International court jurisdiction has proven inappropriate for the United States.’ Condoleeza Rice 2005.International law and court judgments are fine, but only when they come out the right way. Anything else is inappropriate for the United States.Why are the US nuclear facilities not open to IAEA like Iraq and Iran?The US has the right to attack any country that it thinks could attack it first.The logic of the annexation of Texas was essentially attributed to Saddam Hussain when he conquered Kuwait.A large majority of US public believe that the US should accept the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the World Court, sign the Kyoto protocols, allow the United Nations to take the lead in international crises, and rely on diplomatic and economic measures more than military ones in the ‘war on terror’. ( A large scale survey conducted in the US by independent bodies).

⭐The ancient Greeks (and many since) said that if you gave a man the finest education, which included Art, Poetry, Philosophy and Music, the result would be a man of supreme moral character. If true, then everything in this book is rubbish… you choose.Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This book will give some guidance as to what ‘absolutely’ means.Anyone wishing to understand the effect of political power on the human mind, should read this book. It shows that the human mind is incapable of being trained to cope with political power.Like all the other Chomsky books I’ve read, it’s written for academic intellectuals. The academic language used, makes reading by the general public, like wading knee deep though treacle. It’s worth the effort to catch the bits you can understand. You just don’t come across this info anywhere else.Great book… when is this author going to write for the general public?

⭐we’re in Kabul desperately trying to go home please can you help us?great book by noam chomsky enjoyable way to be in hiding

⭐Very good book

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