An Example of a "Learning Process" Journal (using the 2 colored box format)

Book: Hegemony or Suvival: America's Quest for Global Dominance.

Source: New York: Henry Holt, 2003.

Book: Hegemony or Suvival: America's Quest for Global Dominance.

Chapter 1 Priorities and Prospects [p. 1 - 10]

What is the main idea of this chapter?

"We are entering a period of human history that may provide an answer to the [biological] question of whether it is better to be smart than stupid." The point is that biologically stupid species such as beetles and bacteria appear to be doing a much better job of surviving than humans who appear to be destroying both the environment and themselves "with cold and calculated savagery".

Chomsky identifies two superpowers: the United States and "world public opinion". Chomsky also points out that by the "United States" he means state power, not American public or even elite opinion.

Chomsky's primary argument is that the American public have been "controlled" by the American political system using the public media as its method for "informing" them of what they are trying to accomplish. The Bush administration is using the argument of "survival" in order to promote a different policy, namely that of world dominance, not just militarily but politically and economically. This is all encapsulated in the idea of a pre-emptive strike which means that they now have a policy that ignores the United Nations and claims that they have the "right" to attack any country at any time without any recourse to a "higher authority" such as world opinion. The only justification is "might is right" or "just try and stop us from doing whatever we want". This is a new development in world politics.

"... control of opinion is the foundation of government, from the most despotic to the most free." [p. 7]

"While the enemy at home often has to be controlled by intensive propoganda, beyond the borders more direct means are available." [p. 8] [i. e. force]

"The record of murder, torture, and devestation was extensively reported by human rights organizations, church groups, Latin American scholars, and many others, but it remained little known to citizens of the state that bore prime responsibility, and was quickly effaced." [p. 9]

Chomsky's distinction between state power and the American public is a powerful one. How could we have arrived at the present situation where even a large percentage of the American public is not supportive of its own government policies?

I am both surprised and appalled by how little I feel I really know about the battles in Central America over the last 20 years. The issue of world (and American) opinion is fundamental and trying to separate out fact from fiction is not an easy matter as both sides want to present their case as the right one. Nontheless it appears that "winning" comes first and justification is an after-thought. The means appears to justify the ends, which is not a pleasant thought.

I see two issues:

(1) what has the United States actually done with respect to its foreign policies during the last 20 years, and

(2) what do we think about this?

However I want to complete reading this book, and then I also want to go to the Web to see what else I can find about the facts that Chomsky presents.

History Index