Power. It’s what drives us. The pursuit of it is what motivates us. But what is power, really? And how can we get more of it? In his book “Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky,” Chomsky explores these questions in depth. Here’s a quick summary of his most important insights.
Chomsky defines power as “the capacity to impose one’s will on others.” He goes on to say that there are two types of power: material and ideological. Material power is the type of power that comes from having control over resources like money, land, or weapons. Ideological power, on the other hand, comes from having control over ideas and beliefs.
According to Chomsky, the ruling class maintains its grip on power by controlling both the means of production (i.e., the material resources) and the means of communication (i.e., the ideological resources). This control allows them to shape public opinion in their favor and prevent any challenge to their authority.
But it’s not all doom and gloom; there is hope for change. Chomsky argues that those with less power can chip away at the ruling class’s stronghold by engaging in what he calls “counter-hegemonic struggle.” This involves using alternative sources of information to spread counter-narratives and challenge dominant paradigms. When enough people are exposed to these alternative perspectives, they can start to see through the ruling class’s propaganda and false narratives—and ultimately overthrow them.