Posted yesterday at 5:00 p.m.
The excesses of a “failed state”
Noam Chomsky, radical thinker? Perhaps, but seeing the state of Uncle Sam’s country today, we understand that the nonagenarian intellectual was above all a whistleblower as to the perils awaiting the United States. He still is, we say to ourselves when reading this collection of interviews. And we feel that he is very, very worried about what will happen next. The roots of Trumpism run deep, says the man who long ago argued that the world’s leading power exhibited many of the characteristics of failed states. Trumpism, like Trump, he said, will “last for quite a while yet — the individual as well as the toxic currents he has unleashed.” This represents, in his opinion, an existential threat. However, true to himself, Noam Chomsky is not throwing in the towel. How to curb the spread of political authoritarianism? Thanks to “a sincere, dedicated, courageous, lasting commitment, which goes through education, unionization and militancy, nourished by serious reflection in order to adapt it to circumstances”.
Alexandre Sirois, The Press
the precipice
Noam Chomsky (interviews with CJ Polychroniou)
Lux editions
318 pages
The United States dissected
But what is happening in the United States? We often hear this question on public affairs programs… and at dinner parties. And we’ve been wondering about it even more since the coup attempt of January 6, 2021. On the eve of the midterm elections, the two authors – passionate about American society and its political system – come to enlighten us. Many in Canada fear that the rise of populism and the slippages observed in our neighbors to the south will be repeated here. This is even more true since the arrival of Pierre Poilievre at the head of the Conservatives. This essential book, written in the form of an exchange, explains to us in what soil this phenomenon has developed. And also reminds us that there are still things going well in the United States. Fortunately.
The Delirium of the American Empire
Alexandre Sirois and Alexandre Couture Gagnon
Editions La Presse
285 pages
Nathalie Collard, The Press
Back to the Trump years
When Donald Trump became a candidate for the White House in June 2015, Pierre Martin had an epidermal reaction. “If he wins the presidency, I would seriously consider giving up any research or teaching on American politics,” he wrote at the time. Luckily he didn’t! Over the past few years, the analyzes of this political scientist from the University of Montreal on the Trump era have allowed us to better understand the nature of this extraordinary politician, but also his impact on many aspects of society and society. political universe of our neighbours. This collection of columns and blog posts — originally published by the Montreal Journal — is intended to be a summary of his reflections. It will also be read with interest because, as Pierre Martin explains, “the recent experience of the United States is worth being better understood”, also, “for what is universal about it”. Trumpism, alas, is contagious.
America under pressure
Peter Martin
Journal editions
310 pages
Alexandre Sirois, The Press