3 Review(s)

In Hegemony Or Survival, Noam Chomsky, the world renowned intellectual activist, scathingly attacks the United States of America and its foreign policy. Summary Of The Book In Hegemony Or Survival, Chomsky points out the US’s history of hypocrisy, racism, manipulation and exploitation. Giving instances of the country’s violent historical interferences in Iraq, Vietnam, Cuba, Kosovo, and other countries, Chomsky states that the Bush era was only carrying forward an old tradition. The author also paints a picture of the kind of catastrophes that are bound to be the outcome of the country’s greed for domination and power. Using its economic, military and social powers, the United States of America has ensured that nobody gets ahead in this race for world dominance. Without thinking of the toll that it may take on the world, the United States unabashedly goes ahead with its strategies in pursuit of what it desires, by the process of funding countries and organisations, pulling down resisting governments, and waging wars. Anything and anyone who threatens the prestige, power, and global standing of the United States is considered an enemy and shrewdly dealt with, be it in the form of a preventive war or by encouraging the enemies of its enemies. It has always been a habit of the US, according to Chomsky, to wage what it calls preventive wars against nations it considers to be a threat to its dominance. The US has also been increasing its nuclear capacity, while discouraging other countries from doing the same. In Hegemony Or Survival, the author also points out that the US has never interfered in any issue or conflict without an ulterior motive, be it the Israel-Palestine conflict or the Serbia and Kosovo conflict. The country has also cleverly used mass media for brainwashing their own citizens and those of European countries to support their cause. The book also looks into the Iraq War and the invasion of Kuwait, as well as the US’s relationship with Eastern Europe and East Asia since the Second World War. Chomsky believes that unless this superpower is stopped in its quest for domination, the world is doomed. About Noam Chomsky Born in 1928 to Jewish parents in Philadelphia, Avram Noam Chomsky is an author, teacher, linguist, political activist, and has been a constant critic of the US foreign policy and capitalism. Books written by him include The Sound Pattern Of English, Syntactic Structures, American Power And The New Mandarins, Imperial Ambitions, Deterring Democracy, The Prosperous Few And The Restless Many, Failed States: The Abuse of Power And The Assault on Democracy, and Hopes And Prospects. Chomsky worked for almost 55 years at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was a Professor and the Professor Emeritus in the university’s Department of Linguistics and Philosophy. Chomsky’s criticism of America’s war against Vietnam brought him to the forefront. He is known for his criticism of foreign policies of all governments, mainly the United States. He has written over a hundred books. Chomsky began his career as a linguist, and his theory of generative grammar is considered to be a very significant contribution to linguistics. He has received numerous honorary degrees from universities around the world.