Freedom and Power: Chomsky's Theory of Media Control and Its Inspiration for Contemporary International Politics

Zi Wang

doi:10.54254/2753-7048/2025.LD25297

Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public MediaOpen access

Freedom and Power: Chomsky's Theory of Media Control and Its Inspiration for Contemporary International Politics

Research Article

Open Access

Freedom and Power: Chomsky's Theory of Media Control and Its Inspiration for Contemporary International Politics

Zi Wang ^1*

¹ University of California, Davis

^*Corresponding author: 1098045169@qq.com

Published on 20 July 2025

LNEP Vol.107

ISSN (Print): 2753-7056

ISSN (Online): 2753-7048

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-273-7

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-274-4

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Abstract

Chomsky's media control theory sharply criticizes the American capitalist system and profoundly reveals the ruling class’s control of the media and its impact on the American domestic even the contemporary international political situation. Starting from Chomsky's theory of media control, the article explains how people became the “spectators of democracy” under the influence of manufacturing consent and propaganda model, which violates the nature of human pursuit of freedom. The paper criticizes U.S. for interfering in international affairs for the sake of national interests through Chomsky’s study on terrorism and a large number of examples. Throughout the study of media control theory from various angles, this paper reveals the fact that the United States uses the media to deceive the public and control their thoughts under the veil of freedom and democracy, so that the public can understand the double standard behavior of counter-terrorism and other foreign policies that serve the interests of the American ruling class. The paper warns people to reflect on the use of the media and appeal the public to pursue the objective truth. It also helps people, to a certain extent, break out of the media’s control of their minds and boldly pursue freedom and happiness.

Keywords:

Media, International politics, Propaganda model

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References

[1]. Liu, J. Y. (2019). Research on Nom Chomsky’s Media Control Thought. Dissertation of Hebei University.

[2]. Su, X. D. (2011). A Study of Chomsky’s International Political Thought. Dissertation of Kunming University of Science and Technology.

[3]. Wen, F., & Wang, H. D. (2011). The “Propaganda Mode” of Control and the “Ideal Society” of Freedom: On the Ideological Origin of Chomsky's “Propaganda Model”. China Academic Journal, 10, 65-67.

[4]. Guo, Q. M. (2009). A Critical Review of Chomskyʾs Linguistically-based Idea of Freedom. Journal of Renmin University of China, 3, 125-130.

[5]. Mei, Q. L., & Chu, J. Y. (2011). Freedom and Power: Interpreting the “Transformational Generative Grammar” of American Media Politics: Analysis of Chomsky’s Media Studies. China Academic Journal, 7, 31-34.

[6]. Shan, B., & Li, J. L. (2008). Media Control and its Core Problems Governed by Orwell’s Problem. Journal of Shanghai University (Social Sciences), 15(4), 74-82.

[7]. Mao, J. G., & Liu, Y. F. (2020). “Grab” and “Play Around”: Chomsky Reinterprets “Terrorism”. Contemporary Foreign Language Studies, 3, 93-104.

[8]. Albert, M., & Chomsky, N. (2003). Noam Chomsky On Iraq War. Peace Research, 35(1), 51-60.

References

[1]. Liu, J. Y. (2019). Research on Nom Chomsky’s Media Control Thought. Dissertation of Hebei University.

[2]. Su, X. D. (2011). A Study of Chomsky’s International Political Thought. Dissertation of Kunming University of Science and Technology.

[4]. Guo, Q. M. (2009). A Critical Review of Chomskyʾs Linguistically-based Idea of Freedom. Journal of Renmin University of China, 3, 125-130.

[6]. Shan, B., & Li, J. L. (2008). Media Control and its Core Problems Governed by Orwell’s Problem. Journal of Shanghai University (Social Sciences), 15(4), 74-82.

[7]. Mao, J. G., & Liu, Y. F. (2020). “Grab” and “Play Around”: Chomsky Reinterprets “Terrorism”. Contemporary Foreign Language Studies, 3, 93-104.

[8]. Albert, M., & Chomsky, N. (2003). Noam Chomsky On Iraq War. Peace Research, 35(1), 51-60.

Cite this article

Wang,Z. (2025). Freedom and Power: Chomsky's Theory of Media Control and Its Inspiration for Contemporary International Politics. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,107,7-13.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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Volume title: Proceedings of ICILLP 2025 Symposium: Property Law and Blockchain Applications in International Law and Legal Policy

ISBN: 978-1-80590-273-7(Print) / 978-1-80590-274-4(Online)

Editor: Renuka Thakore

Conference website: https://2025.icillp.org/London.html

Conference date: 21 November 2025

Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media

Volume number: Vol.107

ISSN: 2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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