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Chomsky on Anarchism

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"Chomsky on Anarchism" is a collection of writings and interviews with Noam Chomsky that addresses the topic of anarchism. Arranged in chronological order and spanning over five decades, the essays provide an unique perspective on Mr. Chomsky's intellectual development into one of today's most influential and prominent critics of capitalism. The book demonstrates that anarchist theory has significantly influenced Mr. Chomsky's thought, revealing a side of Mr. Chomsky that is often implied but infrequently made explicit in his writings.

Among the eleven works, I found "Objectivity and Liberal Scholarship" (1969) to be a particularly appealing critique and discussion of the Vietnam War and the anarchist society that emerged briefly in Spain during its Civil War in the 1930s. Here, Mr. Chomsky displays at a relatively early point in his career the qualities for which he would become famous; his biting satire and devastating deconstruction of the powerful, in this case directed at the false justifications for the war in Vietnam and the West's non-support for Spanish democracy, provides many thought-provoking and timeless truisms.

"Containing the Threat of Democracy" (1990) is another noteworthy piece in that it exemplifies a mature writer who has a masterful command of history, social theory and criticism. Mr. Chomsky brilliantly draws on Enlightenment thought to critique how the powerful have used the force of law to enable the rule of the few over the many, with a wide-ranging discussion of how Western elitism has resulted in genocide, war and repression under the guise of civilization. We learn how the business class has allied with the government to use propaganda to serve their mutual interests and mold public opinion, thereby allowing poverty and violence to persist and preventing a more meaningful form of democracy to emerge.

Mr. Chomsky directly addresses anarchism in response to questions from several interviewers. Citing Daniel Guerin as a major influence, Mr. Chomsky explains that anarchism requires structure at the local, national and international levels but is characterized by its lack of a central authority. Mr. Chomsky believes that developing a successful anarchist society will require time and experimentation; he also contends that state intervention will be necessary to ensure a successful transition from capitalist rule to absolute democracy. Ultimately, Mr. Chomsky makes a strong argument that humanity will gain mightily from solving the problem of authoritarian oppression and applying its collective wisdom to the positive task of building an anarchist society grounded in the principles of peace, freedom and equality for all.

I'm not sure what some of the reviewers are talking about. Unlike much of the Chomsky material published these days, there is a significant amount of new material in this book. "New" at least in the sense that it's never been published before, or has never been published in English (there's one essay that was published in Ljubljana in 1986 and an amazing Brazilian interview from 1996). I'm a huge fan of Chomsky. I read his work wherever I can find it, but I haven't seen at least five of the chapters in this book...and several of the others aren't all that common.

But the real point is that, taken together, these essays and interviews provide a truly fascinating and seldom seen side of a social critic who, admittedly, sometimes seems to be making the same point (however important) over and over. This book is Noam Chomsky at his most exciting: thinking about the possibilities for alternative social forms, rather than simply critiquing the one we've got.

Highly recommended!

I bought this book because I was interested in learning about anarchism as well as Noam Chomsky. Before this book, I had only heard snippets of Chomsky's critical views of the US and capitalist society in general. I was unaware of what type of society he did support. I also had recently heard several people talk about anarchism, which I had previously (and ignorantly) thought of as nothing more than chaos. This book was a good introduction to both the topic and the author. I learned what Mr. Chomsky stands for, rather than just what he stands against. He discusses anarchism and "libertarian socialism" as the ideal form of government to insure freedom and liberty, while being critical of capitalism and totalitarian socialism. He has certainly sparked my interest in anarchism and compelled me to investigate further. My only complaint is that the first half of the book seems more like an apologist essay for the communist North Vietnamese than anarchism. Nevertheless, the second half of the book was worth the purchase price.

"Chomsky on Anarchism" is a wonderful introduction to Chomsky's anarchist ideals. Like all of Chomsky's writings, this collection of interviews and essays is insightful and deep, a clear anaylsis of the real, underlying problems in our world today, like US imperialism, corporate globalization, domestic repression and state propaganda. I especialy enjoyed his interview with Barry Pateman, associate editor of UC Berkeley's Emma Goldman Papers. Knowledge is power. So, put down The New York Times and delve into the prolific writings of the most important punk rocker around, Noam Chomsky!

If you enjoy reading Chomsky's political writings and/or interviews or if you're interested in learning more about anarchism, you won't be disappointed. Chomsky, as usual, presents perspectives I've never heard, and perspectives far outside the mainstream corporate spectrum. An inspiring, provocative and accessible book.

This book is a great introduction to both Noam Chomsky and anarchism, both in terms of its readability and its broad scope. Here one gets a taste of both anarchist theory and practice(alas, though, only a taste), as well as an examination of the celebrated peak of anarchism's influence on world history during the Spanish Civil War. This book is best in the hands of two types of readers: 1)the person already familiar with Chomsky who is interested in knowing what Chomsky stands for, and what has influenced his thinking; 2) the curious person who wants a lucid, brief introduction to the ideas of anarchism and not an esoteric, theoretical analysis.

I will say this though, for the person with a large apetite this book will not satiate it. Most of the book is transcripts of lectures or interviews Noam Chomsky has had over the years, and for me these for the most part left me disappointed with their lack of content, and rigor. However, the two major esays which are included "Objectivity and Liberal Scholarship" and "Containing the Threat of Democracy" are absolute gems, and in my view justify the purchase of this book alone. In conclusion I'll just say to not expect this book to suffice as your sole resource, neither for anarchism nor for Noam Chomsky.

"The consistent anarchist, then, should be a socialist, but a socialist of a particular sort. He will not only oppose alienated and specialized labor and look forward to the appropriation of capital by the whole body of workers, but he will also insist that this appropriation be direct, not exercised by some elite force acting in the name of the proletariat" (p. 125).

In this passage Noam Chomsky distinguishes anarchism (aka libertarian socialism) from so-called anarcho-capitalism and Marxism. Such incisive distinctions are replete in Chomsky on Anarchism. Those wanting an unambiguous contemporary introduction to anarchism would be hard put to find a better book than this collection of essays and interviews selected by Barry Pateman.

In Chomsky on Anarchism one can gather a sense of the history and origins of anarchism, explore its philosophical underpinnings (Rousseau, Kant, Humboldt, et al), read explications of the writings of some of its representatives (Bakunin), imagine some of the possible social and economic arrangements of a future anarchistic society, consider answers to traditional and contemporary objections to anarchism, and learn how anarchist thought can be applied to current national and international affairs and issues.

The book also doesn't shy away from controversy. Here we read of Chomsky's (in my view, convincing) defense of temporarily strengthening the state in some cases out of a concern for "human consequences" lest a "more illegitimate institution" "take over" (p. 212). Chomsky particularly has in mind the government of the United States and its "minimal welfare system" that does provide a margin of support for "poor mothers and children" but is threatened by the "private tyrannies" which want to minimize the state further in order to increase private power. Not only is temporarily strengthening the state an immediate moral imperative, argues Chomsky, but it can also further the eventual goals of anarchism:

"In fact, protecting the state sector today is a step towards abolishing the state because it maintains a public arena in which people can participate, and organize, and affect policy, and so on, though in limited ways" (p. 213).

Therefore, Chomsky on Anarchism contains not only an objective and historical accounting of anarchism per se but also a glimpse into an anarchism that is particularly Chomskyan. I highly recommend this book.

Post-9/11 politics has thus far been an arena dominated by fear, hatred, and finger-pointing. Whether from liberal or conservative viewpoints, social analysts are quick to place blame, but never offer solutions. The social climate, created by the corporate media through newspapers, books, magazines, and television, has created a culture of fear, political apathy, and hopelessness, while the alternative view offered by opposing intellectuals has offered nothing but scathing analysis that would give just cause for even the proudest patriot to hang his head and wait solemnly for Armageddon. Although Noam Chomsky, probably the world's leading radical intellectual, has been prone himself to give out some much needed American wake-up calls of scolding analysis in his nearly 40 years of political writing, in Chomsky on Anarchism he offers something else: Hope: A reason for Americans to come out from underneath the covers and face their problems. In Chomsky on Anarchism, Chomsky chooses to step aside from the herd of negative media and instead of pointing fingers, places the power of American politics back into the hands of American citizens.
Chomsky on Anarchism is composed of 11 essays, book prefaces, and transcribed interviews from the last 40 or so years that share what Chomsky is truly about; A passion for true democracy. Now it would be pertinent, seeing as some Americans would like to believe that the United States is a democracy and the title of the book includes the word "anarchism," which most Americans would probably disassociate with democracy, to examine what exactly Chomsky believes constitutes a democracy. In an interview entitled The Relevance of Anarcho-syndicalism, Chomsky gets right to it: democracy starts from the ground up. This ideal which Chomsky believes an anarchist society is founded upon is in sharp contrast with our political system, where Chomsky finds the problem that the opposite is true, as all power resides in the top of a social structure with the federal government. Chomsky, citing New England's working class in the late 1800's, clearly defines his vision of democracy with the classic labor press quote, "They who work in the mills ought to own them."
Chomsky uses a variety of historical examples to shed light on the experiences of anarchism, providing alternative thought to the dilemmas of today's capitalist-driven America. Chomsky cites Bakunin, Rudolph Rocker, Daniel Guerin, and a variety of others in his attempt to distinguish what anarchism is and what is has done. Most notably in Notes on Anarchism, he refers to smaller communal living that prospered during the Spanish Revolution, the Israeli Kibbutzim and the Worker's Movement in Paris in 1871. Chomsky paraphrases Pellotier in defining the struggle of anarcho-syndicalists that, "Anarcho-syndicalists sought, even under capitalism, to create "free associations of free producers" that would engage in militant struggle to prepare to take over the organization of production on a democratic basis." Thus, Chomsky, citing examples throughout history, attempts to explode the deepest American belief that there is an alternative to free-market corporate capitalism; A democratic system in which the workers may rule themselves.
Chomsky, never short of social insight, discusses in Goals and Visions a realistic way to achieve democracy in our big-business dominated government. Chomsky shares that, although he has a vision of an anarchist society, the first step, strengthening the state, would be contradictory to his vision, but a necessary woe. Chomsky explains that when private industries hold power, we as citizens are unable to make decisions, whereas the State can actually be used as a democratic vehicle to make the choices we desire.
Chomsky states, in an interview entitled Anarchism, Marxism and Hope for the Future, what is probably the most worthwhile and fundamental belief to anarchism and the most powerful weapon for the restless masses, that "the burden of proof has to be placed on authority, and that it should be dismantled if that burden cannot be met." Many Americans feel helpless and believe that our government is meant to be in power and it is unchallengeable and untouchable, and that citizens need to accept things the way they are, but as Chomsky attests in Language and Freedom, governments are not a natural creation and do not need exist. Furthermore governments are not above citizens' control or disposal. This theory alone, because of its universal point, may be why few, if any, mainstream media outlets chose to review this book; they can't prove their own necessity for being besides their own commercial wallets.
Chomsky on Anarchism gives newfound power and hope to restless Americans who feel they have no choice but to adhere to the current political situation. Chomsky proves, through a rigorous intellectual workout of theory and anarchist history, that there are alternatives to corporate government and Americans have the ability to strive for them. Noam Chomsky proves his worth as a social analyst, rising above his peers and the corporate media to offer solutions and provide hopeful alternatives rather than selling fear and complacency. Chomsky on Anarchism is the resuscitator thrust for American politics that revives the masses, returning political power back to those who should rightfully have it: American citizens.

Good condition. Great content; even for someone who thought he'd got the gist of Chomsky already.

Since I'm only 21, every essay was new to me. I had read some of the interviews in the book before from other sources, so that was a little disappointing. So if you've been a Chomsky fan for decades now then none of this should be new to you, except the interviews perhaps.

So I highly recommend this book to people who are only now beginning to read Chomsky and want a better understanding from which postulates his critique and analysis of our society springs from.