- 17 Sep 2004 17:50
#458240
From Thomas M. Magstadt, Ph.D. "Understanding Politics: Ideas, Institutions and Issues":
"[Totalitarianism] itself denotes complete domination of a society and its members by tyrannical rulers and imposed beliefs." (emphasis added)
Orwell's "1984" gives us not only an interesting read, but an eye into the possibilities of Totalitiarian government. However, I argue that while the IngSoc ("English Socialism," effectively, Oligarchal Collectivism) government of 1984 is Authoritarian and oppressive to some members of its society, not ALL members are controlled, oppressed, and forced to think along "the party line."
Society in Oceania, the fictional American-esque superstate in which the main character, Winston Smith, lives, is split into three basic classes. Firstly is the Inner Party. Members of the Inner Party do all the intellectual thinking and jobs for the Party. They have the best accomodations, food, drink, and lifestyle. They oversee the Thought Police and maintain the high-ranking jobs in the Ministries of Peace, Love, Truth and Plenty (War, Interrogation/Police, Propaganda and Industry). They all wear black overalls as a symbol of status and Party unity.
The next class of society, the middle class, is considered the "Outer Party" or simply the Party. They work lower jobs within the Ministries. Their accomodations are decent but below modern European/American standards. They live in small flats, often eat somewhat basic and unappetizing cafeteria food at work, and their possessions, while adequate, are often shabby. Being that Winston is a member of the Outer Party, most of the focus is on the life of an Outer Party member.
The Outer Party is under the CONSTANT surveillance of the Thought Police and Inner Party. While the Inner Party has the option of turning off their Telescreens for short amounts of time, the Outer Party may never do so. Every motion, every word, every action is captured on television or microphone for the scrutiny of the Thought Police. Obviously, the members of the Outer Party are treated in a typical Totalitarian fashion. To a degree, we can argue that the Inner Party, too, are under the Totalitarian system, although they have more priveledges.
However, the last group, the Proletariat, is rarely under observation! The vast majourity of the Proles, the largest percentage of people in society, live lives of blissful ignorance. They have enough to get by but never luxury. Being ignorant of politics, they care little about the doings of the Party. Some patrols walk the streets, but are not shown to be any more ruthless than military/civilian police.
While the Outer Party is constantly expected to be obedient to the Party and Big Brother, the Proletariat is really no different from many societies today. Many Americans follow politics and war about as closely as the Proles - we want good leaders, we want to win the war, we want less taxes, we want better progragms. The propaganda fed to the Proles tells them that these things are all true, and they are, by and large, left to their own designs.
While the Party is strictly controlled by the Thought Police, 1984's IngSoc government cannot be cited as an example of true Totalitarianism, as it fails to assimilate the entire society into the Party Line of thought.
"[Totalitarianism] itself denotes complete domination of a society and its members by tyrannical rulers and imposed beliefs." (emphasis added)
Orwell's "1984" gives us not only an interesting read, but an eye into the possibilities of Totalitiarian government. However, I argue that while the IngSoc ("English Socialism," effectively, Oligarchal Collectivism) government of 1984 is Authoritarian and oppressive to some members of its society, not ALL members are controlled, oppressed, and forced to think along "the party line."
Society in Oceania, the fictional American-esque superstate in which the main character, Winston Smith, lives, is split into three basic classes. Firstly is the Inner Party. Members of the Inner Party do all the intellectual thinking and jobs for the Party. They have the best accomodations, food, drink, and lifestyle. They oversee the Thought Police and maintain the high-ranking jobs in the Ministries of Peace, Love, Truth and Plenty (War, Interrogation/Police, Propaganda and Industry). They all wear black overalls as a symbol of status and Party unity.
The next class of society, the middle class, is considered the "Outer Party" or simply the Party. They work lower jobs within the Ministries. Their accomodations are decent but below modern European/American standards. They live in small flats, often eat somewhat basic and unappetizing cafeteria food at work, and their possessions, while adequate, are often shabby. Being that Winston is a member of the Outer Party, most of the focus is on the life of an Outer Party member.
The Outer Party is under the CONSTANT surveillance of the Thought Police and Inner Party. While the Inner Party has the option of turning off their Telescreens for short amounts of time, the Outer Party may never do so. Every motion, every word, every action is captured on television or microphone for the scrutiny of the Thought Police. Obviously, the members of the Outer Party are treated in a typical Totalitarian fashion. To a degree, we can argue that the Inner Party, too, are under the Totalitarian system, although they have more priveledges.
However, the last group, the Proletariat, is rarely under observation! The vast majourity of the Proles, the largest percentage of people in society, live lives of blissful ignorance. They have enough to get by but never luxury. Being ignorant of politics, they care little about the doings of the Party. Some patrols walk the streets, but are not shown to be any more ruthless than military/civilian police.
While the Outer Party is constantly expected to be obedient to the Party and Big Brother, the Proletariat is really no different from many societies today. Many Americans follow politics and war about as closely as the Proles - we want good leaders, we want to win the war, we want less taxes, we want better progragms. The propaganda fed to the Proles tells them that these things are all true, and they are, by and large, left to their own designs.
While the Party is strictly controlled by the Thought Police, 1984's IngSoc government cannot be cited as an example of true Totalitarianism, as it fails to assimilate the entire society into the Party Line of thought.
- By wat0n
- By Negotiator
- By litwin