There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.
Noam ChomskyRead
Democracy was regarded as entering into a crisis in the 1960s. The crisis was that large segments of the population were becoming organized and active and trying to participate in the political arena.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the challenges democracy faced in the 1960s due to increased civic participation and activism.
Noam Chomsky's quote reflects on a significant era in which democracy was perceived to be in a state of crisis as numerous citizens began to mobilize and engage in the political process. This surge in organization and activism from various segments of the population indicated a shift towards more inclusive participation, yet also raised concerns among traditional power structures about maintaining control and governance.
Themes
DemocracyPoliticsActivismParticipationCrisis
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on social movements, one might say, 'As Noam Chomsky pointed out, the 1960s marked a pivotal moment when democracy faced a crisis due to organizational activism.'
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There is still much debate about whether torture has been effective in eliciting information - the assumption being, apparently, that if it is effective, then it may be justified.
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