Creeping Fascism

2 CDs

This is one of those “must haves.” In this detailed and heavily documented talk, Chomsky illustrates how imperial U.S. foreign policy, the national security apparatus and a state capitalist economic system limits democracy and contributes to a kind of creeping fascism. Abroad, the U.S. is opposed to any form of independent nationalism whether it is Egypt, Cuba or Iran. It creates, cultivates and supports client regimes. It does this indirectly through local collaborators, many of whom are “educated” at elite U.S. universities and/or have ties to U.S.-dominated global institutions. If they get out of line they are removed and replaced. The policies demand muscle in the form of the world’s largest military. Domestically the population is propagandized into a state of fear and thus is relatively passive. Though Chomsky points out that the Central American solidarity movement was a positive activist departure. His comments in the q&a on the environment are prescient.

Recorded at the Village Gate.