The Abuse of Authority in Authoritarian Governments
The majority of authoritarian governments gravely misuse the authority bestowed upon them by the people, ultimately manipulating and subjugating those same people. George Orwell depicts such an authoritarian state in his book "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (1984), whose main tactic was to oppress its people by manipulating and dominating them. The fictional government that Orwell presents employs a variety of tools, including ongoing propaganda and continuous surveillance. Many academics and experts are getting more and more concerned that the fiction is coming true. For example, nations like the former Soviet Union, Communist China (during Mao's rule), Nazi Germany, and currently North Korea under Kim Jong certainly fit the description of a fascist state as given by Orwell. Even though individuals hold the feeling that an authoritarian government cannot thrive in the modern-day United States, certain events in the country tend to prove otherwise. The 9/11 terrorist attack has led to stringent measures by the US government which include the passing of the Military Commissions Act (2006), the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, the Patriot Act, proof of illegal wiretapping, government-sanctioned torture in CIA black sites, and also "extraordinary rendition". A significant proposition by President Trump to bring back waterboarding (torture) as a method of interrogation is a sign that his administration is leaning towards an authoritarian rule. President Trump claimed that he wants to "fight fire with fire" to stop terrorism by stating that he "absolutely" believes torture works (Merica). The actions of the Bush, Obama, and the Trump Administration are significant in the making of fascist states, and they are certainly not proper actions or events of a democratic government.
Constant Surveillance
In Orwell's novel, constant monitoring has been extensively applied by the fictional government to control its citizens. The concept of surveillance is evident in the poster where Winston made his way to the stair of a building. On the poster was written: "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU", indicating that there were surveillance cameras all over the flat which was seven apartments up. As stated by Winston, there was a voice from an oblong metal plaque that was a dull mirror-like. When Winston turned a switch, the voice emanating from the instrument, which was called a telescreen, sank but the words could still be distinguished. The telescreen invaded Winston’s privacy since it could only be dimmed but not shut off completely.
The fictional government as hypothesized by Orwell is synonymous with policies implemented by the various administrations since the 9/11 terrorist attack. The strategy of surveillance is controversial in the modern-day America where some people support it while others reject it. The supporters of government surveillance claim that the move is appropriate in combating terrorism in the country. A majority of Americans remain untroubled by the news that the National Security Agency has a dragnet for collecting phone records of millions of individuals in the country. The controversy sets in as the NSA does so to all citizens even though there is no suspicion, and regardless of whether the measure has any connection to counterterrorism (THE EDITORIAL BOARD).
In Orwell's novel, any sound made by Winston, and which was significantly above the level of a quiet whisper was picked up by the telescreen. Besides, Winston's actions could be seen and also his voice could be heard as long as he remained within the field of vision that the instrument commanded (Orwell). In this case, all his moves, as well as sounds, were closely monitored by the government; thus proof of citizen oppression by the party. In addition, there were police patrols who snooped into people’s windows. The patrols were in a helicopter that was in the far distance, and it skimmed down between the roofs (Orwell). Nonetheless, Winston states that the patrols did not pose a great threat as compared to the Thought Police.
In the novel, the Thought Police presented a significant challenge to citizens as it is hard to fathom when one was being watched, regardless of the moment. In the fictional government, it was conceivable that the Thought Police put Winston and other individuals under constant surveillance all the time. As explained by Orwell:
"But at any rate, they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to. You had to live- did live, from habit that became instinct- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard and except in darkness every movement scrutinized" (p. 3).
Such a condition put the individuals in a mental and psychological torture as they believed that one could not live a free life that was unaffected by party surveillance. Such a move took place after President Bush signed an executive order into law putting all Americans under constant surveillance with the NSA collecting and analyzing phone metadata of citizens; hence infringing their privacy.
Unending Propaganda
Propaganda can be described as ideas, information, or rumors that are spread deliberately in efforts to help or harm an individual, group, movement, organization, or even a country. In Orwell's book "1984", propaganda is highly applied ensure the public is kept in control. For instance, there is the use of Big Brother as the fundamental propaganda which is directed to turning citizens against Goldstein. Propaganda against Goldstein was spread to harm him by making him the greatest enemy of the people. The party was sure that making people turn against this one man, they will be distracted from following the Party actions closely; hence easier to manipulate. Other than manipulating people to turn against Goldstein, the propaganda was spread to deceive citizens and make them think that the party is effective in addressing their needs. People in Oceania only listen to such news as soon as they spread among them, and so they eventually find it true. In addition, the ruling government in Oceania disallowed opinion regarding the issues put forward by the government.
The next aspect of unending propaganda is a recalibration of the way citizens think. The party used slogans with such phrases as "War is Peace," "Ignorance is Power," and "Freedom is Slavery". As Orwell explained, the party in Oceania would announce that two and two made five, and since it was a repeated lie, the citizens eventually believed it (p. 82). The repeated idioms or slogans reeducated the citizens of Oceania into believing whatever the rulers wanted them to believe. In addition, there were ubiquitous television screens that spread propaganda.
The same case applies in the United States over the past two years, as well as the current Trump’s administration. As explained by the correspondents of the Global Research, all governments, including that of the US, tell lies whenever it suits their purposes, with the understanding that the key is to lie. Reporters are paid by the government to spread disinformation that suits the position of the government. Such propaganda spread by the government during President Bush's administration is the manipulation of intelligence to rally public support for the invasion of Iraq (Kosar and Hamilton). In so doing, the government gained power and manipulated the US citizens into believing that the majority supported the Iraq war. Trump’s administration has also turned to use propaganda to sway people to the truth, for instance, the President has spearheaded the controversy over climate change, and citizens are made to believe that the issue is a hoax and a term created by and for the Chinese. When people believe such propaganda, they fail to objectively seek the truth and end up following the government blindly.
Works Cited
Hamilton, John M. & Kevin R. Kosar "All the President’s Propaganda." The New York Times, Dec. 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/12/opinion/all-the-presidents-propaganda.html. Accessed 27 May 2017.
Merica, Dan. "Trump on waterboarding: 'We have to fight fire with fire.'" CNN Politics. Jan. 2017, http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/25/politics/donald-trump-waterboarding-torture/. Accessed 27 May 2017.
Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984). Toronto, Canada: McClelland & Stewart, 2015.
THE EDITORIAL BOARD. "Surveillance: A Threat to Democracy." New York Times. June, 2013, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/12/opinion/surveillance-a-threat-to-democracy.html. Accessed 27 May 2017.
Global Research. "U.S. Government Has Long Used Propaganda against the American People", Dec 2016. http://www.globalresearch.ca/u-s-government-has-long-used-propaganda-against-the-american-people/5502255. Accessed 27 May 2017.
