Global Discontents: Conversations on the Rising Threats to Democracy

Every page of this lively, probing, and sharp collection delivers a searing observation from linguist and political-thinker Chomsky. In the 12 interviews, conducted with Chomsky between June 2013 and January 2017 by Alternative Radio host Barsamian, Chomsky speaks with his characteristic matter-of-factness about pressing issues, including climate change, the Trump presidency, and democracy. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan may have “wrapped his proposals in spreadsheets so they would look wonkish to commentators,” but they amount, Chomsky says, to effectively ending the federal government. He dismantles in a few sentences the deception inherent in television commercials: because “everyone produces the same products,” “you have to compensate by fraudulent product differentiation.” He skewers the “double standards” by which the U.S. judges itself and other countries, cannily arguing that this really amounts to a single standard: if others commit a crime against the U.S., it’s a crime; if the U.S. does the same against others, it’s justified. As he prepares to turn 89, Chomsky supplements his trenchant political critiques with lighter-hearted advice on living a long life: “If you’re riding a bicycle and you don’t want to fall off, you have to keep going—fast.” These incisive interviews illustrate that Chomsky still pedals faster than most other social commentators today. (Dec.)