There is a strategy of social management defined by Noam Chomsky as “problem-reaction-solution”, whereby the state creates a problem in the society to manufacture popular alarm so that they can justify security policies that curtail civil liberties and so forth. It is a very real system of control, a real method of manipulation used by power. Because of this technique, some people assume that any sort of activism other than non-violent protest rallies is actually part of a state conspiracy to create conditions for imposing marital law.
This model of social management policy should not make you think that any confrontation with authorities will automatically backfire and strengthen their power. No
Chomsky’s model is applicable when the disturbances being fabricated meet one or more of at least two conditions:
• The disturbances should be such as can be readily absorbed by state power
• They should be primarily directed against targets irrelevant to the power structure.
The model, in this case, is most appropriately applied to the fabricated problems of debt and energy shortages. These are fake problems invented specifically in order to justify neoliberal policies. The model applies to the imposition of electricity blackouts in order to make the public amenable to importing natural gas from Israel, etc. It can also be argued that continuously holding demonstrations that have no real effect on the power structure, but which can be used to justify restrictive laws against public gatherings and rallies, etc, also fulfills this model.
Targeting corporate power for disruption does not fit into Chomsky’s model; it does not, and cannot serve the interests of power. Corporations do not absorb loss, they cannot tolerate disruption. They can use social unrest to justify demanding greater guarantees to protect their capital, but that is because they know their capital is not really in danger. If they know their capital is really in danger, they will protect it themselves.
What we have to do is apply Chomsky’s model ourselves against corporate power. Create a problem for them, get a reaction from them, and offer a solution to them.
Send a message to the Multinationals and foreign investors. .”.You have investments all over Egypt supporting the coup…you are financing oppression. ..We can hit your interests anywhere. ..Because you have too many…We suggest you support justice instead, If you want to do business here”