there has been a deepening recognition among elites in the West that as you begin to lose the power to control people by force, you have to start to control what they think. And in the United States, that recognition has reached its apogee.
Noam Chomsky, in his book "Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky," discusses the growing awareness among Western elites about their diminishing ability to exert control through force. As traditional means of coercion become less effective, there is a shift towards manipulating and controlling public perception and thought. This evolution emphasizes the importance of managing ideas and narratives as a means of maintaining power.
Chomsky points out that in the United States, this realization has reached a critical point. The focus has shifted from physical domination to shaping beliefs and opinions, highlighting a strategic pivot in how control is exercised over society. This reflects a broader trend in which those in power recognize that influencing thought is vital for sustaining their authority in an era of increasing dissent and challenges to their control.
