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2 minute(s) · October 16, 2024
The author of "The Myth of American Idealism" examines the roots of America's dominant foreign policy.
War / Image: alaskapublic.org
The author of "The Myth of American Idealism" talks about how America sanitizes the horror of its wars.
Post-World War II American strategy emerged as a response to the U.S. becoming a global hegemon, bolstered by rapid industrial growth and military power. Key planners advocated for maintaining unquestioned dominance while limiting the sovereignty of other nations. The "Grand Area" concept aimed to align global regions with American economic interests, emphasizing military supremacy and investment opportunities. Nationalism and local welfare were seen as threats to U.S. objectives. The emphasis on resource control and economic expansion continues to shape U.S. foreign policy, despite conflicting local objectives. Human costs often remain obscured, shielding the public from the consequences of this dominance.
Noam Chomsky / Image: thoughtco.com
Chomsky also explores how war is abstracted and sanitized in public discourse, distancing citizens from the harsh realities of conflict. Adam Smith noted that those removed from battle often find war exciting, while feminist scholar Carol Cohn critiques the euphemisms used by defense intellectuals, which prevent confronting the true horrors of nuclear warfare. Journalists often overlook the consequences of violence, leading to a lack of understanding about the actual suffering caused by conflict.
"The Myth of American Idealism" by Noam Chomsky / Image: penguin.com.au
Read more about Noam Chomsky on America's wars here:
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