Attacking Quote by Noam Chomsky
“We should recall that during the Second World War and the Great Depression there was an upsurge in popular, radical democracy. In all over the world. It took different forms, but it was there, everywhere. In Greece it was in the Greek revolution, and so on. And it had to be crushed. In countries like Greece, it was crushed by violence. In countries like Italy, where the US forces entered in 1943, it was crushed by attacking and destroying the anti-German partisans and restoring the traditional order.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Historical Democratic Movements, 1995
During crises, radical democratic ideas surge worldwide, but they are often suppressed by force or political reaction.
In simple terms: Crises spark democratic ideas, but they’re often crushed.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and protect democratic impulses.
Themes
politics
history
democracy
repression
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- activism
- policy analysis
- education
- historical study
Key Concepts
social movements
authoritarianism
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do democratic ideas rise in crises?
- How can societies safeguard emerging democratic forces?
A Different Perspective
Some view these movements as temporary, not lasting change.
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
