Rogue States

The Rule of Force in World Affairs

De: Noam Chomsky

Narrado por: Brian Jones

Duración: 9 h y 1 m

Resumen del Editor

Noam Chomsky argues that contrary to popular perception, the real "rogue" states in the world today are not the dictator-led developing countries we hear about in the news but the United States and its allies. He challenges the legal and humanitarian reasons given to justify intervention in global conflicts in order to reveal the West's reliance on the rule of force. He examines NATO's intervention in Kosovo, the crisis in East Timor, and US involvement in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Chomsky relies on both historical context and recently released government documents to trace the paths of self-interest and domination that fuelled these violent regional conflicts. Throughout, he reveals the United States' increasingly open dismissal of the United Nations and international legal precedent in justifying its motives and actions. Characteristically incisive and provocative, Chomsky demonstrates that the rule of law has been reduced to farce.

©2000 Diane Chomsky Irrevocable Trust (P)2015 Audible Inc.

GADFLY

America’s gadfly is Noam Chomsky. One imagines a number of American elected officials and corporate moguls wishing Chomsky would quit writing about their poor judgment, interference, and undue influence in world affairs. Chomsky is a critic of American government, capitalist excess, and corporate welfare just as Socrates was a critic of the Greek Polis. History suggests Socrates, like Chomsky, never held public or private office. They are similar in that each believes they know better “how to govern” than those who are elected or appointed. There is inherent unfairness in their criticism because neither was in the position of making government or organizational decisions. Socrates and Chomsky measure performance against an ideal, an inherently unchallengeable illusion.

The question Chomsky might ask himself is would he live anywhere else but America? If he would, how perfect is that other nation? This is not to say that Chomsky and other critics of America are not good for society. They are critically important to the betterment of society. Intelligent critics are our modern Socrates; i.e. our gadflies.

America does need to do better but if all one only listens to Chomsky, depression, apathy, and inaction take the place of progress toward a Socratic vision of the “good”.