![]() ![]() ![]() As predecessors to “American exceptionalism” he cites France’s “civilizing mission” among its colonies and even imperial Japan’s vow to bring “earthly paradise” to China under its tutelage. His memory is almost entirely negative but it is strong and unsparing.Ĭhomsky reminds us that parallels to America’s tendency to act in its own interest while speaking of more global interests can be found among the powerful throughout history. Yes, there are times when the United States does good, but Chomsky in his latest book, Who Rules the World?, reminds us of a long list of harms that most Americans would rather forget. ![]() Noam Chomsky is at his best in putting those platitudes to rest, seeing an America of hypocrisy and self-interest. In an increasingly multipolar world, America’s power is far from its dominant heights after World War II, but it is still unmatched.Īmericans tend to ease any qualms about such military supremacy with self-assurances about US benevolence. In unparalleled fashion, the United States today has the capacity to project its military might throughout vast parts of the globe, even if blunders in Iraq and Libya, unresolved crises in Syria and Yemen, and disturbing trends in Russia and China demonstrate the limits of American military power to shape world events. It is hard to see yourself as others do, all the more so if you are the world’s sole remaining superpower. ![]()
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