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Product Description
The United States asserts the right to use military force against ‘failed states’ around the globe. But as Noam Chomsky argues in this devastating analysis, America shares features with many of the regimes it insists are failing and constitute a danger to their neighbours.
Offering a comprehensive and radical examination of America past and present, Chomsky shows how this lone superpower – which topples foreign governments, invades states that threaten its interests and imposes sanctions on regimes it opposes – has stretched its own democratic institutions to breaking point. And how an America in crisis places the world ever closer to the brink of nuclear and environmental disaster.
About the Author
Noam Chomsky is the author of numerous bestselling political works, including Hegemeny or Survival, Imperial Ambitions and, with Gilbert Achcar, Perilous Power, all published by Hamish Hamilton/Penguin. A professor of Linguistics and Philosophy at MIT, Chomsky is widely credited with having revolutionized modern linguistics. He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
76 of 78 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
When trying to sum up 'Failed States', as with other books by Noam Chomsky, the words that spring to mind are 'thought provoking'. In this latest work professor Chomsky argues that America, whilst commonly accusing other nations of being failed states, can be fairly judged to be a failed state itself, or at least share some of the qualities that define a failed state. He bases this argument on America's demonstrable inability or unwillingness to protect its citizens from violence and possible destruction and its tendency to consider itself beyond domestic and international law. He also argues that America suffers from a 'democratic deficit' which is another indicator of a failed state. Each of these arguments, along with others, are discussed in detail and presented with Chomsky's usual clarity.
My early fears that Failed States would contain little that hadn't already been discussed in the excellent Hegemony or Survival were proven false as the book went on to cover fresh ground, including 'just war theory', an up to date analysis of the invasion of Iraq and the present chaotic situation, and possible future developments in the middle east and south America. Chomsky does discuss certain principles which will be familiar to those who have read him before, and which are central to his, and surely any right thinking persons, beliefs such as the principle of universality. This is understandable as keeping such principles in mind is important when considering the issues which the book discusses.
Professor Chomsky polarizes opinion like few others and there is a tendency for people to either dismiss him and his views entirely or to consider his every word and opinion to be the unequivocal truth. Maintaining an open mind, a topic which the book made me think deeply about, is clearly essential when reading Failed States.
Whatever your own thoughts on the many weighty issues may be, the book will make you think and force you to ask questions. Most importantly for me, Failed States made me think about the primary motivations that determine how the world works, be it in business, international relations or even at the level of the individual. Understanding these motivations will go some way to explaining why those in power behave, and have always behaved, the way they do.
My early fears that Failed States would contain little that hadn't already been discussed in the excellent Hegemony or Survival were proven false as the book went on to cover fresh ground, including 'just war theory', an up to date analysis of the invasion of Iraq and the present chaotic situation, and possible future developments in the middle east and south America. Chomsky does discuss certain principles which will be familiar to those who have read him before, and which are central to his, and surely any right thinking persons, beliefs such as the principle of universality. This is understandable as keeping such principles in mind is important when considering the issues which the book discusses.
Professor Chomsky polarizes opinion like few others and there is a tendency for people to either dismiss him and his views entirely or to consider his every word and opinion to be the unequivocal truth. Maintaining an open mind, a topic which the book made me think deeply about, is clearly essential when reading Failed States.
Whatever your own thoughts on the many weighty issues may be, the book will make you think and force you to ask questions. Most importantly for me, Failed States made me think about the primary motivations that determine how the world works, be it in business, international relations or even at the level of the individual. Understanding these motivations will go some way to explaining why those in power behave, and have always behaved, the way they do.
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Failed States is Professor Noam Chomsky's latest state of the nation address, a critical snapshot of where the United States is right now.
The approach he takes is that 'Failed States' is a phrase used within the U.S. establishment to justify certain exercises of power, from financially supporting opponents of failed states, to regime change and invasion. 'Failed states', like 'rogue states' and 'states of concern' before it, is a vague term, perhaps deliberately so but Chomsky identifies some defining features of a failed state, among them, a failure to adequately protect its citizens from terrorism, a failure to provide reasonable health care for all, regardless of an ability to pay, a tendency to break international law and act regardless of treaties and conventions, a lack of representative democracy in its political processes.
Chomsky argues that a fundamental moral truism is that an individual or a country should judge oneself by the same standards that you apply to others, if not to a higher standard if you are completetly honest with yourself. Therefore, the United States should be examined on the basis of the criteria briefly laid out above. Chomsky undertakes this task and finds that the U.S. is sorely lacking in many crucial respects and indeed shares many of the key aspects of countries that are currently demonised by those who stalk the corridors of power.
As is probably familiar to readers of Chomsky, I approached this book with a little caution, fearing that Chomsky was simply going to rehash many of his familiar arguments and cases through this new prism; I was pleased to find that, whilst there is obviously some overlap with previous texts, there is a great deal of fascinating contemporary material in this highly detailed book. Those who are cautious about purchasing another Chomsky text, concerned about over-familiarity, need worry no more. Read alongside his previous excellent book, Hegemony or Survival, Failed States is yet another classic.
The approach he takes is that 'Failed States' is a phrase used within the U.S. establishment to justify certain exercises of power, from financially supporting opponents of failed states, to regime change and invasion. 'Failed states', like 'rogue states' and 'states of concern' before it, is a vague term, perhaps deliberately so but Chomsky identifies some defining features of a failed state, among them, a failure to adequately protect its citizens from terrorism, a failure to provide reasonable health care for all, regardless of an ability to pay, a tendency to break international law and act regardless of treaties and conventions, a lack of representative democracy in its political processes.
Chomsky argues that a fundamental moral truism is that an individual or a country should judge oneself by the same standards that you apply to others, if not to a higher standard if you are completetly honest with yourself. Therefore, the United States should be examined on the basis of the criteria briefly laid out above. Chomsky undertakes this task and finds that the U.S. is sorely lacking in many crucial respects and indeed shares many of the key aspects of countries that are currently demonised by those who stalk the corridors of power.
As is probably familiar to readers of Chomsky, I approached this book with a little caution, fearing that Chomsky was simply going to rehash many of his familiar arguments and cases through this new prism; I was pleased to find that, whilst there is obviously some overlap with previous texts, there is a great deal of fascinating contemporary material in this highly detailed book. Those who are cautious about purchasing another Chomsky text, concerned about over-familiarity, need worry no more. Read alongside his previous excellent book, Hegemony or Survival, Failed States is yet another classic.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
For followers of Chomsky, it seems so long ago that he challenged BF Skinner and his behaviourist theory of language acquisition and broke new linguistic ground with his deep structures and transformational grammar; having turned the linguistic world on its head, he underwent various personae, emerging as a consistent political commentator on the United States. He is an Institute Professor and Professor (Emeritus) of in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT and has worked there for over fifty years.
"Failed States", with a sub-heading of "The Abuse of Power and the Assault of Democracy", seems to hint at other countries, e.g. the Middle East, Central America or Eastern Europe. It is the United States.
In part one, he deals with ways in which the United States state power is used in in violation of international law. In part two, he looks at ways in which democracy functions and examines ways in which the United States political system is not functioning democratically.
To many, Chomsky has become a loose-cannon, firing off randomly but consistently at a great national superpower attempting to bring freedom and democracy to other nations of the world; to others, he is a unique voice arguing rationally from a deeply intellectual,scholarly and well-researched position against an aggressive and overtly imperialist world power.
A "marmite" character though he may be, over many years he has been a consistent, thoughtful critic who cannot be ignored.
"Failed States", with a sub-heading of "The Abuse of Power and the Assault of Democracy", seems to hint at other countries, e.g. the Middle East, Central America or Eastern Europe. It is the United States.
In part one, he deals with ways in which the United States state power is used in in violation of international law. In part two, he looks at ways in which democracy functions and examines ways in which the United States political system is not functioning democratically.
To many, Chomsky has become a loose-cannon, firing off randomly but consistently at a great national superpower attempting to bring freedom and democracy to other nations of the world; to others, he is a unique voice arguing rationally from a deeply intellectual,scholarly and well-researched position against an aggressive and overtly imperialist world power.
A "marmite" character though he may be, over many years he has been a consistent, thoughtful critic who cannot be ignored.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
awesome
Shows you what really goes on, this book is an unfiltered masterpiece (unlike tv or newspapers)
A must read just like all his other works
A must read just like all his other works
Published on 23 Aug 2009 by Mr. Scott Pattinson
READ AND READ AGAIN
This book should be bought by all those ignorant people that think America has and continues to spread democracy around the world. Read more
Published on 11 Aug 2009 by Mr. T. E. Samad
Always good for a good debate...
Typically, Professor Chomsky asks Americans to stop condemning 'failed states' (note the quotes) and "to look honestly in the mirror" instead. Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2006 by Historian
limiting government power vs people's power
For the most part of civilizations, nearly all governments in all nations claimed universal rights though in somewhat different manners. Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2006 by researcher-China/Asia
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