Chomsky and Globalisation

Jul 3, 2026

A critical introduction to Noam Chomsky’s role as a left-wing commentator on globalisation and the “new world order,” presenting why his political and social critiques attract both admiration and sharp resistance. The text contrasts supporters who value his attacks on US foreign policy with critics who question his interpretation of international affairs. It situates his arguments through documented examples of US interventions and widely cited reactions in major newspapers, framing the debate around expertise, readability, and political judgment.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages81

Reading Time3 h 24 min

Introduction

Public reception and criticism

Chomsky’s critique of US foreign policy

Examples of intervention and media reactions

POSTMODERN ENCOUNTERS Chomsky and Globalisation Jeremy Fox Series editor: Richard Appignanesi I C O N B O O K S U K T O T E M B O O K S U S A Published in the UK in 2001 by Icon Books Ltd., Grange Road, Duxford, Cambridge CB2 4QF E-mail: [info@iconbooks.co.uk](info@iconbooks.co.uk) [www.iconbooks.co.uk](www.iconbooks.co.uk) Sold in the UK, Europe, South Africa and Asia by Faber and Faber Ltd., 3 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AU or their agents Distributed in the UK, Europe, South Africa and Asia by Macmillan Distribution Ltd., Houndmills, Basingstoke RG21 6XS Published in Australia in 2001 by Allen & Unwin Pty. Ltd., 83 Alexander Street, CrowsNest, NSW 2065 Published in the USA in 2001 by Totem Books Inquiries to: Icon Books Ltd., Grange Road, Duxford, Cambridge CB2 4QF, UK Distributed to the trade in the USA by National Book Network Inc., 4720 Boston Way, Lanham, Maryland 20706 Distributed in Canada by Penguin Books Canada, 10 Alcorn Avenue, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario M4V 3B2 Reprinted 2001, 2002 Text copyright © 2001 Jeremy Fox The author has asserted his moral rights. Series editor: Richard Appignanesi No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any means, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. ISBN 1 84046 237 X Typesetting by Wayzgoose Printed and bound in the UK by Cox & Wyman Ltd., Reading Introduction Noam Chomsky is well placed to represent a leftwing view of globalisation and the new world order. He is well known, a prolific writer of books, articles and letters, and makes many speeches, so information about his views is easy to find. In his research work, he is known as the‘Einstein of modern linguistics’, and almost universally admired by his colleagues for his contribution to their work. But as a commentator on political and social affairs, he arouses mixed feelings. Many socialists admire him warmly and would agree with much of what he says and writes. But some middle-of-the-road Americans find it hard to accept the unremitting severity of his attacks on American government policy, especially foreign policy. The irritation felt by some is expressed in this quotation from the prestigious New York Times: Arguably the most important intellectual alive, how can he write such nonsense about international affairs and foreign policy?1 CHOMSKY A ND GLOB A LISATION Another, similar viewpoint is expressed by a reader of the Los Angeles Times who wrote in 1988 that: Noam Chomsky is a voice in the wilderness, but nobody listens.2 It is not particularly surprising if many in a society are patriotic and criticise those who attack government policy. After all, Darwin himself wrote on patriotism: There can be no doubt that a tribe including many members who, from possessing in a high degree the spirit of patriotism, fidelity, obedience, courage and sympathy, were always ready to give aid to each other and to sacrifice themselves for the common good, would be victorious over most other tribes; and this would be natural selection.3 From our point of view, however, the qualities that are most useful in a commentator on globalisation are more likely to include readability, expertise and common sense than unquestioning acceptance of US government policy. INTRODUCTION For over 30 years, Chomsky has been denouncing US foreign policy, complaining noisily about the way the USA has treated so many Third World countries. To take a typical example, he lectured at the American University in Cairo in 1993 about the Cold War period, during which US operations included ‘the overthrow of the conservative parliamentary regime in Iran in 1953, restoring the Shah and his brutal rule; the destruction of Guatemala’s ten year democratic interlude’, which placed in power ‘a collection of mass murderers who would have won nods of approval from Himmler and Goering’, with atrocities reaching their highest level in the 1980s,‘always with the backing or participatio

FAQs

Who is Noam Chomsky in the context of this book’s discussion of globalisation?

The introduction presents Chomsky as a prolific writer and widely recognized linguist whose political commentary on globalisation earns both support and controversy.

What kinds of reactions to Chomsky are highlighted in the introduction?

Supporters are described as admiring his severity toward US government policy, while some middle-of-the-road Americans struggle to accept his critiques of foreign policy.

How does the introduction illustrate Chomsky’s view of US foreign policy?

It recounts examples from the Cold War period, including claims about interventions and their aftermath, and it also cites other commentators and media outlets describing US actions as replacing leaders or behaving like a “bully”.

Jul 3, 2026

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