Congress diehards pushing Chomsky centric narrative to paint entire media with the same brush

 Lalit Shastri

Congress diehards clinging precariously to the party, that’s going down a never-ending slide at a fast pace election after election and its leadership that couldn’t be more unpopular are trying every trick possible to build a tilted narrative to somehow revive their party’s shattered image and prospects without realizing that the majority of the Indian population is now too wary of the Congress leadership and their sectarian and communal politics. The latest in terms of a narrative from the Congress side is the futile bid to touch a chord with the opinion makers across India by using Noam Chomsky as an intellectual and author of “How the World Works” to criticise the media at large using Chomsky to give a call for heightened media literacy and vigilance.  The thought being thats being forward very subtly through the social media is that breaking free of constraints requires expanding the spectrum of acceptable thought, questioning entrenched assumptions, and encouraging a truly open exchange of ideas— these are being underscored as essential steps toward meaningful progress.

It is being projected that even without outright censorship, society is being controlled by effectively limiting the range of acceptable opinion while encouraging lively debate within those narrow confines. The message the skewed narrative builders are trying to spread is that there is an illusion of free discourse that creates a false sense of democracy and critical engagement while reinforcing the underlying power structures that remain unchallenged.

Using Chomsky to push a narrative has its pitfalls…One would like to drive home the point through an Objective Critique of Noam Chomsky’s Work

Universal Grammar and Linguistics

Empirical Limitations: Chomsky’s Universal Grammar posits that humans possess an innate, biologically determined linguistic structure. Critics argue that this lacks sufficient empirical backing, particularly when compared to theories emphasizing learning, cognition, and environmental interaction.

Emerging Alternatives: Usage-based approaches, led by linguists like Michael Tomasello, propose that language acquisition arises from general cognitive abilities and social learning, challenging the innateness claim. 

Furthermore, one has tried to build a more penetrating critique of Chomsky on the following points 

1. Political Commentary and Ideological Bias

Selective Criticism: Chomsky is often criticized for focusing extensively on U.S. foreign policy while underplaying the role of authoritarian regimes or left-leaning governments in global conflicts. This has led some to view his analysis as ideologically skewed.

Simplistic Narratives: By framing geopolitical issues predominantly in terms of U.S. dominance and elite control, Chomsky’s perspective is accused of oversimplification, often disregarding local complexities or the agency of other actors.

2. Media Analysis – Manufacturing Consent

Overgeneralization of Media Behavior: While Manufacturing Consent offers a critical lens on media serving elite interests, critics contend that it overlooks the diversity of media outlets and the presence of independent journalism that actively challenges dominant narratives.

Neglecting Audience Agency: Chomsky’s model has been critiqued for underestimating how media consumers interpret, question, or resist propagated content.

3. Resistance to Paradigm Shifts

Intellectual Rigidity: Chomsky’s unwavering commitment to his linguistic frameworks, particularly generative grammar, has been critiqued as resistant to emerging paradigms in cognitive science that incorporate learning and evolution.

Engagement with Critics: He has been accused of occasionally dismissing opposing theories—such as evolutionary linguistics or cultural influences—without fully engaging with their nuances.

4. Philosophical and Cognitive Science Contributions

Rejection of Behaviorism: While Chomsky’s critique of behaviorism (e.g., B.F. Skinner’s work) was groundbreaking, modern behaviorists argue that his dismissal overlooked significant advancements integrating cognition and behavior.

Modularity of Mind: Chomsky’s modular view of the mind, where language operates as a specialized innate system, has been criticized by those advocating for domain-general, integrated cognitive processes.

5. Practical Relevance of Linguistic Theories

Limited Applicability: Generative grammar, despite its theoretical importance, is criticized for having limited practical utility in fields like natural language processing, AI, and second-language teaching, where usage-based and statistical models dominate.

In How the World Works, Chomsky highlights how media and other institutions play a crucial role in this process. By framing debates and deciding which perspectives are amplified or marginalized, they shape public perception and maintain societal order. For instance, while mainstream discussions may passionately address policy details, the fundamental economic and political systems often go unquestioned. Chomsky's insight challenges us to recognize these boundaries, critically analyze the limits placed on discourse, and seek alternative perspectives that foster genuine change.

Chomsky’s critique serves as a call for heightened media literacy and vigilance. Breaking free of these constraints requires expanding the spectrum of acceptable thought, questioning entrenched assumptions, and encouraging a truly open exchange of ideas—essential steps toward meaningful progress.