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The dominant propaganda systems have appropriated the term 'globalization' to refer to the specific version of international economic integration that they favor, which privileges the rights of investors and lenders, those of people being incidental. In accord with this usage, those who favor a different form of international integration, which privileges the rights of human beings, become 'anti-globalist.' This is simply vulgar propaganda, like the term 'anti-Soviet' used by the most disgusting commissars to refer to dissidents. It is not only vulgar, but idiotic. Take the World Social Forum, called 'anti-globalization' in the propaganda system -- which happens to include the media, the educated classes, etc., with rare exceptions. The WSF is a paradigm example of globalization. It is a gathering of huge numbers of people from all over the world, from just about every corner of life one can think of, apart from the extremely narrow highly privileged elites who meet at the competing World Economic Forum, and are called 'pro-globalization' by the propaganda system. An observer watching this farce from Mars would collapse in hysterical laughter at the antics of the educated classes.

Noam Chomsky#63

PropagandaHuman rightsRightsLanguageGlobalization

About this quote

What does it mean?
'Globalization' is propaganda favoring investors; calling human-rights defenders 'anti-globalist' is vulgar and idiotic.
In plain terms
Propaganda favors investors and labels others 'anti-globalist' unfairly.
What can you take from it?
Challenge terms that favor investors over human rights.

Where it applies

  • policy debate
  • activist messaging

Putting it to work

  • reclaim globalization terms
  • highlight investor bias

Questions to consider

  • Who defines globalization?
  • Is 'anti-globalist' a fair label?

Another view

The term globalization has broader uses beyond propaganda.

More from Noam Chomsky

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  3. Remember that the media have two basic functions. One is to indoctrinate the elites, to make sure they have the right ideas and know how to serve power. In fac…

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