About this video

• Video Title: Noam Chomsky - How the Elite controls you
• Channel: Talking Society
• Speakers: Noam Chomsky
• Duration: 16:15

Overview

This video features Noam Chomsky discussing the concept of thought control in democratic societies. He argues that in societies where direct force is not the primary means of control, elites use sophisticated methods to shape public opinion and maintain their power. Chomsky traces this phenomenon from historical revolutions to modern mechanisms like propaganda and the public relations industry, suggesting that more "free" societies often rely more heavily on these indirect control techniques.

Key takeaways

• Democracy as a Threat to Elites: Chomsky posits that elites have historically viewed democracy, defined as meaningful public participation, as a threat to their power and have sought to contain it.
• Shift from Force to Thought Control: As societies lose the capacity for direct coercion, control shifts to manipulating what people think, particularly in systems that retain democratic forms but are controlled by privileged elements.
• "Necessary Illusions": Drawing on Reinhold Niebuhr, Chomsky explains that elites ("cool observers") believe they must impose "necessary illusions" and "emotionally potent oversimplifications" to guide the "bewildered herd" (the general public).
• Manufacturing Consent: The concept, borrowed from Walter Lippmann, highlights the role of the public relations and advertising industries in shaping public opinion to align with elite interests, often referred to as propaganda.
• Intellectual Class's Role: Chomsky suggests that intellectuals often fall into two categories: those who serve power (technocratic, policy-oriented) and those concerned with values like truth and justice, with the former being more aligned with maintaining the status quo.
• Crisis of Democracy: Post-WWII, particularly after the Vietnam War, liberal elites perceived a "crisis of democracy" due to increased public participation, which they saw as a threat requiring more control, not less.
• Propaganda as a Technique: Harold Lasswell's view on propaganda is cited, emphasizing the need for elites to impose their will for the "common good" through new techniques of control due to the perceived ignorance and superstition of the masses.
• Free Societies and Indoctrination: Chomsky argues that sophisticated techniques of indoctrination and control, like the public relations industry, are more prevalent in relatively free societies because they have limited capacity for direct force.