In a new video, MIT professor Noam Chomsky discusses the nature of U.S imperialism as it compares to campaigns of violence carried out by other nations and groups.

Ultimately he drives the point home, suggesting the U.S. has an “extreme contempt for democracy” at home and around the world, and is not above resorting to violence to protect its interests.

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“As long as the dictators back us, it doesn’t matter what the population thinks. If there’s a campaign of hatred against us among the populations and the dictators are in control, everything’s fine. Euphoric headlines.”

The interview is part of a series published by Histories of Violence, a “multi-media forum dedicated to exploring the theoretical, empirical and aesthetic dimensions to violence.” The full site is planned to launch on Sept. 11, 2011.

This video is from Histories of Violence, published to YouTube on August 31, 2011.