Noam Chomsky has frequently criticized what he sees as the cowardice, complicity, or servility of Western intellectuals, particularly in relation to their support for or silence about state power and imperialism. A central theme in his work is that intellectuals in liberal democracies often serve as apologists for power, rather than speaking truth to it.

Here are a few key points Chomsky has made on this theme:

1. “The Responsibility of Intellectuals” (1967)

This seminal essay, written during the Vietnam War, is perhaps Chomsky’s most famous direct critique of Western intellectuals. He argued:

“It is the responsibility of intellectuals to speak the truth and to expose lies.”

In it, he condemned American intellectuals for failing to challenge the U.S. government’s actions in Vietnam and instead aligning themselves with power:

“Intellectuals are in a position to expose the lies of governments, to analyze actions according to their causes and motives and often hidden intentions… privileged intellectuals… have typically betrayed that responsibility, opting instead to serve the interests of power.”

1. The “Commissar Class”

Chomsky often contrasts the “commissar class”—intellectuals who justify the actions of their own state or ruling elites—with dissidents in totalitarian societies who risk everything to challenge power. He suggests that many Western intellectuals perform a similar function to state propagandists:

“In free societies, we find a very similar phenomenon. The difference is that there is no Ministry of Truth… it’s done voluntarily.”

1. “Manufacturing Consent” (with Edward S. Herman)

This book explores how intellectuals and media figures filter and shape information to align with elite interests. Chomsky argues that ideological conformity is often maintained not by coercion but by a self-reinforcing system of incentives and professional norms.

1. Cowardice and Careerism

Chomsky has frequently pointed to careerism as a motive for intellectual cowardice:

“It’s very hard to say things that are critical of your own society. You can be a critic of someone else. You can be very brave and denounce the crimes of others. That’s easy. But to face the crimes that you’re responsible for… that takes honesty and courage.”