Noam Chomsky - Foundations of World Order: the UN, World Bank, IMF & Decl. Human Rights 1999
Updated: November 20, 2024
Summary
The video features a program with Noam Chomsky discussing the foundations of world order post-World War II, focusing on the UN, World Bank, IMF, and Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Chomsky critiques the exploitative nature of globalization on developing countries, the impact of US foreign policy double standards, and interventions in countries like Indonesia, Cambodia, and Laos in 1958. He also addresses the threats to democracy and human rights by powerful corporate interests, the dismantling of global financial regulation, and the necessity for intellectual liberation to challenge prevailing doctrines. The discussion extends to issues in Latin America, specifically focusing on Colombia and challenges with US military aid, drug trafficking, and human rights violations.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction to the Program
Upcoming Programs
Noam Chomsky's Background
50 Years of World Order
Critique on International Economic System
Effects of Globalization on Workforce
Double Standards in US Foreign Policy
Historical Global Crises in 1958
U.S. Involvement in Southeast Asia
Impacts of U.S. Bombing in Laos
Violation of International Law
Dismantling of World Order Pillars
Challenges to Democracy and Human Rights
Implications of Privilege and Choice
Attacks on Non-Union Teachers
Concerns and Actions
Military Aid to Colombia
Drug Trafficking and US Involvement
War on Drugs and Social Issues
Free Trade and Labor Movement
Introduction to the Program
Introduction by Jane Gould to the program featuring Noam Chomsky discussing the foundations of world order, including the UN, World Bank, IMF, and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Upcoming Programs
Announcement of the next program by the Technology and Culture Forum on reinventing universities for the 21st century and details about future programs in the spring.
Noam Chomsky's Background
Overview of Noam Chomsky's academic and professional achievements as a renowned public intellectual addressing various topics like intellectual history, contemporary issues, and international affairs.
50 Years of World Order
Discussion by Noam Chomsky on the establishment of world order post-World War II through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN charter, and the Bretton Wood system, highlighting the conflicts and challenges faced.
Critique on International Economic System
Critique on the international economic system focusing on the North-South divide, impact of Western investors, and the exploitative nature of globalization on developing countries like the G15 nations.
Effects of Globalization on Workforce
Analysis on the impact of globalization on the workforce, including economic failures, declining real wages, worker insecurity, and the unequal distribution of benefits favoring the wealthy elite.
Double Standards in US Foreign Policy
Examination of the double standards in US foreign policy, where high-minded rhetoric of democracy and human rights applies only selectively, with examples from Indonesia and Iraq to illustrate the discrepancies.
Historical Global Crises in 1958
Discusses three major crises in 1958 involving Indonesia, Algeria, and the Middle East, all Muslim countries with oil reserves, and the related U.S. concerns and actions.
U.S. Involvement in Southeast Asia
Explores the U.S. interventions in countries like Indonesia, Cambodia, and Laos in 1958, detailing military coups and the impact of U.S. actions on these nations.
Impacts of U.S. Bombing in Laos
Highlights the heavy U.S. bombing in Laos, leading to casualties and the presence of unexploded bomb remnants causing ongoing harm to the population.
Violation of International Law
Addresses the U.S. and UK bombing in blatant violation of the UN Charter, discussing the lack of accountability, denial of war crimes, and the refusal to acknowledge international law.
Dismantling of World Order Pillars
Examines the dismantling of global financial regulation, erosion of democratic participation, and the shift towards corporate dominance in governance and policy-making.
Challenges to Democracy and Human Rights
Discusses the threats to democracy, human rights, and public education by powerful corporate interests and the diminishing role of the government in serving the public interest.
Implications of Privilege and Choice
Considers the impact of privilege on decision-making and the necessity for intellectual liberation and empirical verification to challenge prevailing doctrines and societal norms.
Attacks on Non-Union Teachers
Non-union staff are not guaranteed decent wages or security, leading to efficiency but also breaking down solidarity in the public school system.
Concerns and Actions
Addressing concerns by taking action, focusing on issues in Latin America, specifically Colombia, discussing military support and the case of Laurie Berenson in Peruvian prison without trial.
Military Aid to Colombia
Overview of the situation in Colombia, increasing US military aid, high violence rates, the role of paramilitaries, guerrilla atrocities, and the connection to drug trafficking.
Drug Trafficking and US Involvement
Discussion on the drug problem, US involvement, the spread of narco trafficking, military violence, drug trafficking ties to paramilitaries and government, and US influence in Colombia and Nicaragua.
War on Drugs and Social Issues
Critique of the US 'War on Drugs,' highlighting social problems within the US related to drug production, criminalization, and human rights violations.
Free Trade and Labor Movement
Analysis of free trade, labor movement, and the importance of free circulation of labor for true free trade to exist, emphasizing ideological aspects of free trade discussions.
FAQ
Q: What are some key topics discussed in the introduction by Jane Gould to the program featuring Noam Chomsky?
A: The introduction covers the foundations of world order, institutions like the UN, World Bank, IMF, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also announces the next program on reinventing universities for the 21st century and provides details about future programs in the spring.
Q: What academic and professional achievements of Noam Chomsky are highlighted in the introduction?
A: Noam Chomsky is recognized as a renowned public intellectual addressing intellectual history, contemporary issues, and international affairs.
Q: What is the focus of Noam Chomsky's discussion regarding the establishment of world order post-World War II?
A: Chomsky discusses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN charter, and the Bretton Wood system, while highlighting conflicts and challenges faced.
Q: What aspects of the international economic system are critiqued by Chomsky?
A: Chomsky critiques the North-South divide, the impact of Western investors, and the exploitative nature of globalization on developing countries like the G15 nations.
Q: What are some examples of the critiques on US foreign policy discussed?
A: The discussion touches upon the selective application of democracy and human rights rhetoric by the US, with examples from Indonesia and Iraq illustrating discrepancies.
Q: What are some key crises in 1958 involving Muslim countries discussed by Chomsky?
A: Chomsky explores crises in Indonesia, Algeria, and the Middle East, all Muslim countries with oil reserves, and covers U.S. concerns and actions.
Q: How does Chomsky address the impact of U.S. interventions in countries like Indonesia, Cambodia, and Laos in 1958?
A: Chomsky details military coups and the consequences of U.S. actions on these nations, including the heavy U.S. bombing in Laos.
Q: What violations of international norms are addressed in the discussion?
A: The discussion covers the U.S. and UK bombing in violation of the UN Charter, the lack of accountability, denial of war crimes, and the disregard for international law.
Q: What themes are examined in relation to global governance and policy-making?
A: Chomsky analyzes the dismantling of global financial regulation, erosion of democratic participation, and the shift towards corporate dominance in governance and policy-making.
Q: How does the discussion address threats to democracy, human rights, and public education?
A: Chomsky raises concerns about powerful corporate interests undermining democracy, human rights, and public education, while discussing the diminishing role of government in serving the public interest.
Q: What is discussed regarding the impact of privilege on decision-making and the need for intellectual liberation?
A: The conversation considers the influence of privilege on decision-making and emphasizes the necessity for intellectual liberation and empirical verification to challenge prevailing doctrines and societal norms.
Q: What issues related to the public school system are highlighted in the dialogue?
A: The debate mentions that non-union staff are not guaranteed decent wages or security, leading to efficiency but also breaking down solidarity in the public school system.
Q: How is US involvement in Latin America, particularly in Colombia, addressed in the discussion?
A: The discussion covers US military aid, high violence rates, the role of paramilitaries, guerrilla atrocities, drug trafficking, and the situation in Colombia and Nicaragua.
Q: What critiques are presented regarding the US 'War on Drugs'?
A: The conversation critiques the social problems within the US related to drug production, criminalization, and human rights violations exacerbated by the US 'War on Drugs.'
Q: What is emphasized in the analysis of free trade and labor movement in the discussion?
A: The discussion stresses the importance of free circulation of labor for true free trade to exist, highlighting the ideological aspects of free trade discussions.
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