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Keeping the Rabble in Line: Interviews with David Barsamian
Interviews from the early 1990s discuss issues such as health care and crime, foreign affairs, and the role of business in society, provide recommendations for change, and explain Chomsky's theories
319 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
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About the author
Noam Chomsky
977 books17.1k followersAvram Noam Chomsky is an American professor and public intellectual known for his work in linguistics, political activism, and social criticism. Sometimes called "the father of modern linguistics", Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy and one of the founders of the field of cognitive science. He is a laureate professor of linguistics at the University of Arizona and an institute professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Among the most cited living authors, Chomsky has written more than 150 books on topics such as linguistics, war, and politics. In addition to his work in linguistics, since the 1960s Chomsky has been an influential voice on the American left as a consistent critic of U.S. foreign policy, contemporary capitalism, and corporate influence on political institutions and the media.
Born to Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants in Philadelphia, Chomsky developed an early interest in anarchism from alternative bookstores in New York City. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania. During his postgraduate work in the Harvard Society of Fellows, Chomsky developed the theory of transformational grammar for which he earned his doctorate in 1955. That year he began teaching at MIT, and in 1957 emerged as a significant figure in linguistics with his landmark work Syntactic Structures, which played a major role in remodeling the study of language. From 1958 to 1959 Chomsky was a National Science Foundation fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study. He created or co-created the universal grammar theory, the generative grammar theory, the Chomsky hierarchy, and the minimalist program. Chomsky also played a pivotal role in the decline of linguistic behaviorism, and was particularly critical of the work of B.F. Skinner.
An outspoken opponent of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, which he saw as an act of American imperialism, in 1967 Chomsky rose to national attention for his anti-war essay "The Responsibility of Intellectuals". Becoming associated with the New Left, he was arrested multiple times for his activism and placed on President Richard M. Nixon's list of political opponents. While expanding his work in linguistics over subsequent decades, he also became involved in the linguistics wars. In collaboration with Edward S. Herman, Chomsky later articulated the propaganda model of media criticism in Manufacturing Consent, and worked to expose the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. His defense of unconditional freedom of speech, including that of Holocaust denial, generated significant controversy in the Faurisson affair of the 1980s. Chomsky's commentary on the Cambodian genocide and the Bosnian genocide also generated controversy. Since retiring from active teaching at MIT, he has continued his vocal political activism, including opposing the 2003 invasion of Iraq and supporting the Occupy movement. An anti-Zionist, Chomsky considers Israel's treatment of Palestinians to be worse than South African–style apartheid, and criticizes U.S. support for Israel.
Chomsky is widely recognized as having helped to spark the cognitive revolution in the human sciences, contributing to the development of a new cognitivistic framework for the study of language and the mind. Chomsky remains a leading critic of U.S. foreign policy, contemporary capitalism, U.S. involvement and Israel's role in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and mass media. Chomsky and his ideas are highly influential in the anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist movements. Since 2017, he has been Agnese Helms Haury Chair in the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice at the University of Arizona.
Born to Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants in Philadelphia, Chomsky developed an early interest in anarchism from alternative bookstores in New York City. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania. During his postgraduate work in the Harvard Society of Fellows, Chomsky developed the theory of transformational grammar for which he earned his doctorate in 1955. That year he began teaching at MIT, and in 1957 emerged as a significant figure in linguistics with his landmark work Syntactic Structures, which played a major role in remodeling the study of language. From 1958 to 1959 Chomsky was a National Science Foundation fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study. He created or co-created the universal grammar theory, the generative grammar theory, the Chomsky hierarchy, and the minimalist program. Chomsky also played a pivotal role in the decline of linguistic behaviorism, and was particularly critical of the work of B.F. Skinner.
An outspoken opponent of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, which he saw as an act of American imperialism, in 1967 Chomsky rose to national attention for his anti-war essay "The Responsibility of Intellectuals". Becoming associated with the New Left, he was arrested multiple times for his activism and placed on President Richard M. Nixon's list of political opponents. While expanding his work in linguistics over subsequent decades, he also became involved in the linguistics wars. In collaboration with Edward S. Herman, Chomsky later articulated the propaganda model of media criticism in Manufacturing Consent, and worked to expose the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. His defense of unconditional freedom of speech, including that of Holocaust denial, generated significant controversy in the Faurisson affair of the 1980s. Chomsky's commentary on the Cambodian genocide and the Bosnian genocide also generated controversy. Since retiring from active teaching at MIT, he has continued his vocal political activism, including opposing the 2003 invasion of Iraq and supporting the Occupy movement. An anti-Zionist, Chomsky considers Israel's treatment of Palestinians to be worse than South African–style apartheid, and criticizes U.S. support for Israel.
Chomsky is widely recognized as having helped to spark the cognitive revolution in the human sciences, contributing to the development of a new cognitivistic framework for the study of language and the mind. Chomsky remains a leading critic of U.S. foreign policy, contemporary capitalism, U.S. involvement and Israel's role in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and mass media. Chomsky and his ideas are highly influential in the anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist movements. Since 2017, he has been Agnese Helms Haury Chair in the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice at the University of Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 27, 2015
I try to read Noam Chomsky at least twice a year as a reminder of the possibilities that are out there. This is a serious of radio interviews Chomsky gave in the early 1990s, and is more accessible than some of his more formal works.
I'm always impressed by Chomsky's insight and the breadth of his knowledge. One passage I underlined, about the pardons that Bush 41 gave to those implicated in the Iran-Contra scandal:
"I frankly didn't take the pardons all that seriously. It was a highly selective prosecution. They didn't go after top people or the important issues. What they were being charged with is minor issues. Lying to Congress is bad, it's a serious violation of law which carries a five-year jail sentence. But compared with carrying out huge international terrorist operations, it's pretty small potatoes. Nobody was charged with conducting an illegal war against Nicaragua. They were only charged with lying to Congress about it. It indicates the values that lie behind the prosecution. In other words, kill and torture whoever you like, but be sure to tell us. We want to take part too. If you think about it, that's exactly what happened in Watergate. The charges against Nixon never included bombing Cambodia. It did come up in the hearings, but the only respect in which it came up was that Nixon had lied to Congress about it. There was no charge ever that he had sent U.S. bombers to devastate Cambodian peasant society, killing tens of thousands of people."
I'm always impressed by Chomsky's insight and the breadth of his knowledge. One passage I underlined, about the pardons that Bush 41 gave to those implicated in the Iran-Contra scandal:
"I frankly didn't take the pardons all that seriously. It was a highly selective prosecution. They didn't go after top people or the important issues. What they were being charged with is minor issues. Lying to Congress is bad, it's a serious violation of law which carries a five-year jail sentence. But compared with carrying out huge international terrorist operations, it's pretty small potatoes. Nobody was charged with conducting an illegal war against Nicaragua. They were only charged with lying to Congress about it. It indicates the values that lie behind the prosecution. In other words, kill and torture whoever you like, but be sure to tell us. We want to take part too. If you think about it, that's exactly what happened in Watergate. The charges against Nixon never included bombing Cambodia. It did come up in the hearings, but the only respect in which it came up was that Nixon had lied to Congress about it. There was no charge ever that he had sent U.S. bombers to devastate Cambodian peasant society, killing tens of thousands of people."
August 12, 2012
the book was published in 1994. it is amazing to me how much of what Chomsky forecast has come true. it is a hard book to read and one has to admire both the interviewer and interviewed. I wish i had stumbled across it when i was teaching economics. I could have made my classes a lot more thought-provoking
February 6, 2022
الترجمة سيئة
November 6, 2014
While Rabble is one of the minor books in the Chomsky oeuvre, it is as thought-provoking and informative as any other Chomsky.
Keeping the Rabble in Line deals mainly with early 90s politics, including NAFTA, GATT, Haiti, the Bush Sr. administrations, as well as early Clinton administration. Other, more permanent issues, such as media control, gun control, global warming, health care and even a quick note on the internet, are also discussed in the context of the times. Yet, the book does not feel outdated, and in fact provides the reader with background to understand the present situation not just on these issues, but also the Third Worldization of the wealthy nations, as well as American foreign policy in Israel/Palestine/Lebanon, or Chile.
While these are all complex issues, they are explained in an accessible manner. This corrobarates one of Chomsky's most important ideas, that if economy policy is described plainly, the average person can understand not just the reasons behind it, but also why it's negative for the working class. (And if the word 'class' makes you recoil, Rabble also features a primer on why and how the American business class has made this word odious for those toiling under them.)
The one thing I think Rabble could've been clearer about is how Nixon's dismantling of the Bretton Woods system lead to unregulated capital floating around. (Sidenote: Isn't Chomsky amazing? I can type phrases such as "Nixon's dismantling of the Bretton Woods system" and have more than a vague idea about what I'm talking about.) Specifically, what is/was this unregulated capital? Why is it bad that it became unregulated? What could've been done to alleviate the effects of the dismantling of the Bretton Woods system? I feel that, while Barsamian's questions and Chomsky's answers were immensely clear about all other topics covered in the book, this unregulated capital kept coming up in various discussions, without really explaining what unregulated meant in that context.
Also, and aside from the index, a few footnotes linking related topics together (e.g. "see more of this topic in interview #3") would've added clarity and made the book seem more thought-out and cohesive.
Keeping the Rabble in Line deals mainly with early 90s politics, including NAFTA, GATT, Haiti, the Bush Sr. administrations, as well as early Clinton administration. Other, more permanent issues, such as media control, gun control, global warming, health care and even a quick note on the internet, are also discussed in the context of the times. Yet, the book does not feel outdated, and in fact provides the reader with background to understand the present situation not just on these issues, but also the Third Worldization of the wealthy nations, as well as American foreign policy in Israel/Palestine/Lebanon, or Chile.
While these are all complex issues, they are explained in an accessible manner. This corrobarates one of Chomsky's most important ideas, that if economy policy is described plainly, the average person can understand not just the reasons behind it, but also why it's negative for the working class. (And if the word 'class' makes you recoil, Rabble also features a primer on why and how the American business class has made this word odious for those toiling under them.)
The one thing I think Rabble could've been clearer about is how Nixon's dismantling of the Bretton Woods system lead to unregulated capital floating around. (Sidenote: Isn't Chomsky amazing? I can type phrases such as "Nixon's dismantling of the Bretton Woods system" and have more than a vague idea about what I'm talking about.) Specifically, what is/was this unregulated capital? Why is it bad that it became unregulated? What could've been done to alleviate the effects of the dismantling of the Bretton Woods system? I feel that, while Barsamian's questions and Chomsky's answers were immensely clear about all other topics covered in the book, this unregulated capital kept coming up in various discussions, without really explaining what unregulated meant in that context.
Also, and aside from the index, a few footnotes linking related topics together (e.g. "see more of this topic in interview #3") would've added clarity and made the book seem more thought-out and cohesive.
September 19, 2009
ليس عصارة نقية كما اراد لها كاتب ان تخرج
حصيلة حوارات على مدى ايام على اثير الاذاعة حركها ديفيد بارساميان قبل ان يخطها على صفحات كتاب لم يستثني اسئلة المستمعين او حتى العثرات الانسانية في الحوار
تشومسكي لن يألو جهدا في تعرية هذا النظام الإمبريالي المتوحش بكل الوسائل
ما يميز الكتاب برأيي انه جاء بعد سنوات قليلة من انهيار المنظومة الاشتراكية ويكشف عن الخطوات الامريكيةللسيطرة على شعوب العالم عداك عن شعبها في توطئة الى سنوات لاحقة تعدت ال15 حتى الان
كيف بدأت تتحول عمليات اقصاء النقابات العمالية من عمليات تحايلية الى ممارسات مباشرة وحشية
عولمة الصناعة..
و,, لك ان تقرأوتخبرني!
حصيلة حوارات على مدى ايام على اثير الاذاعة حركها ديفيد بارساميان قبل ان يخطها على صفحات كتاب لم يستثني اسئلة المستمعين او حتى العثرات الانسانية في الحوار
تشومسكي لن يألو جهدا في تعرية هذا النظام الإمبريالي المتوحش بكل الوسائل
ما يميز الكتاب برأيي انه جاء بعد سنوات قليلة من انهيار المنظومة الاشتراكية ويكشف عن الخطوات الامريكيةللسيطرة على شعوب العالم عداك عن شعبها في توطئة الى سنوات لاحقة تعدت ال15 حتى الان
كيف بدأت تتحول عمليات اقصاء النقابات العمالية من عمليات تحايلية الى ممارسات مباشرة وحشية
عولمة الصناعة..
و,, لك ان تقرأوتخبرني!
July 28, 2016
تشومسكي كاتبي المفضل ...نصيحة لمن يريد ان يقرأ فى السياسة يقرأ لهذا الرجل فسوف تجد انك تقرأ قصة ...وقائع مهمة وفضح لسياسة امريكا باسلوب بسيط وسهل
الكتاب به معلومات قيمة كعادة تشومسكي وكان سبب فى معرفة بعض المعلومات عن اتفاقيتي الجات والنافتا
كتاب جيد
تقييمي 3.5
May 13, 2019
Another great book of interviews from David Barsamian with Noam Chomsky. I started reading this hoping to stumble across a great quote untying the notion that the economic system and all of the oppression created by it is controlled by a small group of folks looking to fuck people over. Fucking people over happens but not because of some grand conspiracy. It happens because of the economic system we live in. A little dated in some ways and in others totally prescient. Barsamian's sections on health care, crime and gun control, reflections on democracy, race, and class were all great. I recommend this book. It's totally accessible and conversational.
March 12, 2018
Very very infromative
June 6, 2018
Εξαιρετικό! Πιο επίκαιρο από ποτέ ειδικά για τους Έλληνες (αλλά και Ευρωπαίους) πολίτες που θα καταλάβουν βαθιά την "αμερικανοποίηση" της ζωή μας. Περιεχόμενα: η παγκόσμια τράπεζα, ρατσισμός, σύστημα υγείας, πεντάγωνο-ιδιωτική οικονομία -κοινωνική πολιτική κ.ά. Συνεντεύξεις του καθηγητή Chomky στον David Borsamian από το 1992 εώς και το 1994. Ελληνικός τίτλος: Η ΧΕΙΡΑΓΩΓΗΣΗ ΤΩΝ ΜΑΖΩΝ, εκδόσεις SCRIPTA 1997.
November 3, 2008
Older interview books often become outdated quickly.
February 13, 2009
Noam Chomsky is brilliant. Whether you agree with his philosophies or not, he's a force to be acknowledged and considered... because he's brilliant.
March 21, 2015
סידרת הרצאות העוסקת בביטוח בריאות, בתוכניות לשיקום האסירים בארה"ב, הוא עוסקת בהיבטים של פוליטיקת חוץ בינהם הוא מעלה את המזרח התיכון. ספר לא קל לקריאה.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews