Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Noam Chomsky

Public opinion and media debates around Noam Chomsky—discover key moments of controversy.

Noam Chomsky is a highly influential American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and political activist. He revolutionized linguistics with his theory of universal grammar. Beyond academia, Chomsky is a prominent critic of US foreign policy, capitalism, and corporate media. He's written extensively on these topics, solidifying his position as a leading intellectual voice on the left. His work spans linguistics, political analysis, and social criticism, making him one of the most cited living authors.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1947: Criticism of the 1947 United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine

In 1947, Noam Chomsky expressed his belief that the 1947 United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine was a bad decision, but also considered a two-state solution on the condition that the nation-states exist on equal terms.

1966: Publication of "Cartesian Linguistics"

In 1966, Chomsky published "Cartesian Linguistics: A Chapter in the History of Rationalist Thought", sparking criticism for his interpretations of classical sources and philosophical terminology.

1967: Rose to National Attention with Anti-War Essay

In 1967, Noam Chomsky rose to national attention for his anti-Vietnam War essay "The Responsibility of Intellectuals," where he criticized U.S. involvement in the war as American imperialism.

1969: Chomsky threatens to protest Rostow's return to MIT.

In 1969, Chomsky threatened to protest publicly if Walt Rostow, a major architect of the Vietnam war, was denied a position at MIT.

1971: Debate with Michel Foucault

In 1971, Chomsky debated the French philosopher Michel Foucault on human nature, a symbolic clash of analytic and continental philosophy traditions. Chomsky argued for universal moral standards, while Foucault connected human nature to present-day conceptions.

1973: Counter-Revolutionary Violence Publication Controversy

In 1973, Counter-Revolutionary Violence: Bloodbaths in Fact & Propaganda, co-written by Chomsky and Edward S. Herman, was published by Warner Modular but subsequently ordered to be destroyed by the parent company due to disapproval of its contents.

1979: Publication of The Political Economy of Human Rights

In 1979, Chomsky and Herman's revised Counter-Revolutionary Violence was published by South End Press as the two-volume The Political Economy of Human Rights.

1980: Faurisson Affair

In 1980, Chomsky defended Robert Faurisson's right to freedom of speech, leading to widespread condemnation and accusations of Holocaust denial against Chomsky himself.

1983: Publication of "The Fateful Triangle"

In 1983, Chomsky published "The Fateful Triangle", in which he criticized the Palestine Liberation Organization for its "self-destructiveness" and "suicidal character" and disapproved of its programs of "armed struggle" and "erratic violence". He also criticized the Arab governments as not "decent".

1989: Chomsky supports John Deutch's candidacy for MIT president

In 1989, Chomsky supported Pentagon adviser John Deutch's candidacy for president of MIT. Later, Chomsky was quoted in The New York Times praising Deutch's honesty and integrity when he became head of the CIA.

2003: Opposed the 2003 Invasion of Iraq

In 2003, Chomsky continued his vocal political activism by opposing the invasion of Iraq.

2004: Publication of "The Anti-Chomsky Reader"

In 2004, Peter Collier and David Horowitz published "The Anti-Chomsky Reader", in which they accuse Chomsky of cherry-picking facts to suit his theories. Horowitz has also criticized Chomsky's anti-Americanism.

January 2006: Criticism from Peter Schweizer

In January 2006, Peter Schweizer of the Hoover Institution criticized Chomsky for favoring estate tax and massive income redistribution but protecting his own intellectual property and receiving high speaking fees.

2010: Denial of Entry to West Bank

In 2010, Chomsky was denied entry to the West Bank due to his criticisms of Israel. He was invited to lecture at Bir Zeit University and meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman later stated it was a mistake.

September 2012: Kozloff's Criticism of Chomsky

In September 2012, Nikolas Kozloff wrote for Al Jazeera that Chomsky has drawn attention to misdeeds of the U.S. and its proxies but has turned into an ideologue, avoiding controversy and significant discussion of Belarus or Latin America's leaders.

2014: Interview on Democracy Now!

In a 2014 interview on Democracy Now!, Chomsky said that the charter of Hamas, which calls for Israel's destruction, "means practically nothing", having been created "by a small group of people under siege, under attack in 1988".

2016: Rebuke by President Erdoğan

In early 2016, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey publicly rebuked Chomsky after he signed an open letter condemning Erdoğan for his anti-Kurdish repression and double standards on terrorism. Chomsky accused Erdoğan of hypocrisy for supporting al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate.