Because We Say So

Because We Say So

Summary

Because We Say So is Noam Chomsky's essential counter punch to American hegemony

In 1962, the eminent statesman Dean Acheson enunciated a principle that has dominated global politics ever since: that no legal issue arises when the United States responds to a challenge to its 'power, position, and prestige'. In short, whatever the world may think, U.S. actions are legitimate because they say so.

Spanning the impact of Edward Snowden's whistleblowing and Palestinian-Israeli relations to deeper reflections on political philosophy and the importance of a commons to democracy, Because We Say So takes American imperialism head on.

'Noam Chomsky is one of a small band of individuals fighting a whole industry. And that makes him not only brilliant, but heroic' Arundhati Roy

'The world's greatest public intellectual' Observer

Reviews

  • Publisher's description. From Edward Snowden and Palestinian-Israeli relations to political philosophy and the nature of democracy, Because We Say So offers a cross-section of perspectives on the question of America's ongoing hegemony.
    Penguin

About the author

Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky is a political theorist, activist and linguist. Chomsky is internationally recognised as one of the most critically engaged public intellectuals alive today. He is the author of numerous bestselling political works, which have been translated into scores of languages worldwide. Among the books are Optimism Over Despair, On Palestine, The Precipice, Chronicles of Dissent, On Anarchism and Hegemony or Survival.
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