Chomsky on Anarchism.pdf - Zine Library
Chomsky on Anarchism.pdf - Zine Library
Chomsky on Anarchism.pdf - Zine Library
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OBJECTIVITY AND LIBERAL SCHOLARSHIP<br />
A sec<strong>on</strong>d alternative would be neutralizati<strong>on</strong> of Thailand and orher nati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
in Southeast Asia. This also is irrati<strong>on</strong>al. For <strong>on</strong>e thing. "the withdrawal of the<br />
American military presence would not be matched by the removal of any<br />
Communist fo rces"-there being no n<strong>on</strong>indigenous Communist forces-and<br />
therefore we would gain nothing by this strategy. Furthermore. we could never<br />
be certain that there would not be "infiltrati<strong>on</strong> of Communist insurgents in<br />
the future." And finally, "the Thai leaders have decided to cooperate with the<br />
United States," for reas<strong>on</strong>s that are hardly obscure.<br />
A third alternative would be [0 use our power in Thailand to "push political<br />
and ec<strong>on</strong>omic reforms." Bur this policy alternative would "do great damage<br />
to American strategy in Thailand and other n<strong>on</strong>-Communist nati<strong>on</strong>s."<br />
And what is more, "extensive interference in the domestic affairs of other<br />
nati<strong>on</strong>s, no maHer how well imenti<strong>on</strong>ed, is c<strong>on</strong>trary to American uaditi<strong>on</strong>s,"<br />
as our pOSl:War record in Thailand clearly dem<strong>on</strong>strates.43<br />
Therefore, we must turn to the fo urth alternative, and maimain our present<br />
policy. "This alternative is probably the most rati<strong>on</strong>al and realistic. The<br />
military policy can be enhanced if it is realized that <strong>on</strong>ly American military<br />
power is capable of preventing large-scale overt aggressi<strong>on</strong> in Southeast Asia,<br />
and the proper role fo r the Thai armed fo rces is to be prepared to cope with<br />
limited guerrilla warfare."<br />
38 This expositi<strong>on</strong> of United States policy in Thailand and the directi<strong>on</strong>s it<br />
should take c<strong>on</strong>forms rather well to the general lines of pragmatic liberalism as<br />
drawn by Hilsman, am<strong>on</strong>g others. It also indicates clearly the hope that we<br />
offer today to the countries <strong>on</strong> the fringes of Asia. Vietnam may be an aberrati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Our impact <strong>on</strong> Thailand, however, can hardly be attributed to [he politics<br />
of inadvertence.<br />
An imeresting sidelight is Darling's explanati<strong>on</strong> in Thailand and the United<br />
States of how, in an earlier period, "the Western c<strong>on</strong>cept of the rule of law" was<br />
disseminated through American influence. "Evidence that some officials were<br />
ob£aining an understanding of the rule of law was revealed" by the statement<br />
of a Thai minister who poimed out that "it is essemial to the prosperity of a<br />
nati<strong>on</strong> that it should have fixed laws, and that nobles should be restrained from<br />
oppressing the people, otherwise the laner were like chickens, who instead of<br />
being kept for their eggs, were killed off." In its internati<strong>on</strong>al behavior as well,<br />
the Thai government came to understand the necessity fo r the rule of law: "A<br />
growing respect for law was also revealed in the adherence of the Thai government<br />
to the unequal restricti<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>tained in the treaties with the Western<br />
nati<strong>on</strong>s in spite of the heavy burden they imposed <strong>on</strong> the finances of the kingdom."<br />
This is all said without ir<strong>on</strong>y. In fact, the examples clarify nicely what<br />
the "rule of law" means to weak nati<strong>on</strong>s, and to the exploited in any society.<br />
Darling, Hilsman, and many others whom I have been discussing represent<br />
the moderate liberal wing of scholarship <strong>on</strong> internati<strong>on</strong>al affairs. It may be use-