Hegemony or Survival
Encyclopedia
Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance is a book by Noam Chomsky
published November 2003. It is a macroscopic view of United States foreign policy from World War II
to the post-Iraq War reconstruction. The central focus of the book, as with many of Chomsky's political works, is the examination of the United States' political, military
and economic motives, in comparison —often in sharp contrast— to its outward rhetorical support for democracy
, the Middle-East peace process
, free trade
, and human rights
. There is an examination of the differences between positions taken by the US government and the people of the world regarding a proposed invasion of Iraq. It also examines the doctrinal thinking of the Establishment
in the United Kingdom
and the US, such as in regard to propaganda
use, centralised decision making
and imperialism
of Western
powers from recent American invasions to the European empires. Chomsky also analyzes what he perceives to be the selective application of the term "terror" to enemies of the U.S., while the actions of the U.S. and its allies are ignored.
The book was recommended by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez
in a speech before the UN General Assembly
in September 2006. Sales of the book surged after the recommendation, its rank on Amazon.com
rising to #1 on paperback and #6 hardcover in only a few days.
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...
published November 2003. It is a macroscopic view of United States foreign policy from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to the post-Iraq War reconstruction. The central focus of the book, as with many of Chomsky's political works, is the examination of the United States' political, military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
and economic motives, in comparison —often in sharp contrast— to its outward rhetorical support for democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, the Middle-East peace process
Peace process
Peace process may refer to:* in general:** Peacebuilding** Conflict resolution* specifically:** Northern Ireland peace process, efforts from c.1993 to end "the Troubles"...
, free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
, and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
. There is an examination of the differences between positions taken by the US government and the people of the world regarding a proposed invasion of Iraq. It also examines the doctrinal thinking of the Establishment
The Establishment
The Establishment is a term used to refer to a visible dominant group or elite that holds power or authority in a nation. The term suggests a closed social group which selects its own members...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the US, such as in regard to propaganda
Propaganda model
The propaganda model is a conceptual model in political economy advanced by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky that states how propaganda, including systemic biases, function in mass media...
use, centralised decision making
Oligarchy
Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with an elite class distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, commercial, and/or military legitimacy...
and imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
of Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
powers from recent American invasions to the European empires. Chomsky also analyzes what he perceives to be the selective application of the term "terror" to enemies of the U.S., while the actions of the U.S. and its allies are ignored.
The book was recommended by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
in a speech before the UN General Assembly
2006 Chávez speech at the UN
On 20 September 2006, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez delivered a speech to the United Nations General Assembly damning U.S. President George W. Bush, with particular focus on foreign policy...
in September 2006. Sales of the book surged after the recommendation, its rank on Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
rising to #1 on paperback and #6 hardcover in only a few days.
Contents
- Priorities and Prospects
- Imperial Grand Strategy
- The New Era of Enlightenment
- Dangerous Times
- The Iraq Connection
- Dilemmas of Dominance
- Cauldron of Animosities
- Terrorism and Justice: Some Useful Truisms
- A Passing Nightmare
See also
- American Empire
- Cultural hegemonyCultural hegemonyCultural hegemony is the philosophic and sociological theory, by the Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci, that a culturally diverse society can be dominated by one social class, by manipulating the societal culture so that its ruling-class worldview is imposed as the societal norm, which then is...
- Failed States (book)
- Full-spectrum dominanceFull-spectrum dominanceFull-spectrum dominance is a military concept whereby a joint military structure achieves control over all elements of the battlespace using land, air, maritime and space based assets....
- HegemonyHegemonyHegemony is an indirect form of imperial dominance in which the hegemon rules sub-ordinate states by the implied means of power rather than direct military force. In Ancient Greece , hegemony denoted the politico–military dominance of a city-state over other city-states...
- Pax AmericanaPax AmericanaPax Americana is an appellation applied to the historical concept of relative peace in the Western hemisphere and, later, the Western world, resulting from the preponderance of power enjoyed by the United States of America starting around the turn of the 20th century...