Using George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four as a guide for interpreting the role of the American state in the 21st century, this book presents eye-opening and compelling documentary evidence that suggests Orwellian policies have already been implemented by Republicans and Democrats.
Using George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four as a guide for interpreting the role of the American state in the twenty-first century – paying particular attention to how the government responded to the life and death issues of terrorism, COVID-19, and climate change – this book presents eye-opening and compelling documentary evidence that suggests Orwellian policies have already been implemented by Republicans and Democrats.
A Sociological Analysis of Incipient Totalitarianism in the United States
advances a groundbreaking sociological explanation for how totalitarian rule is embraced by the public when freedom, equality, and justice are compromised, offering a sociological explanation of how totalitarian rule is operationalized from the macro level to the micro level, using concepts associated with Marx (ruling ideas), Mead (generalized other) and Berger and Luckmann (recipe knowledge) which are especially key to understanding the process. Finally, the book suggests policies that could halt and reverse the progression of totalitarianism in the United States.
Scholarly and yet readily accessible to a general readership, this book showcases the sociological importance and enduring influence of Orwell – working as a supplement to Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and making a meaningful contribution to the public discourse by challenging and informing students and the public about the very real fears of creeping totalitarianism in the United States.
Arvustused
"This book is a valiant attempt to provide an even-handed account of the current forms of political control of discourse and information forms familiar from Orwell, but which have re-emerged in the face of political polarization."
Stephen Turner, Distinguished University Professor, University of South Florida
"We are certainly living in an Orwellian moment. The book has the potential to make an important contribution to understanding this political movement and may even work to protect democracy."
Anna M. Bounds, Associate Professor of Sociology, Queens College
"This book makes an important contribution to the subject. Disinformation and the possibility of America becoming autocratic is very urgent. It speaks decidedly to the Orwellian moment."
Joseph Scimecca, Professor of Sociology, George Mason University
Acknowledgements
1. Big Brother Sightings
Main Features of Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism in the United States
Methods of Control
Force/Coercion
Values
Information
Communication
Method and Theory
Preview
2. The Man and The Book
Early Years
Experiences Top and Bottom
Marriage, Name Change, and War
The Writer
Major Works
Writing Philosophy and Motivations
Personality
The Book: Nineteen Eighty-Four
Influences
Cast of Characters
Plot
Terminology
Preview
3. Terrorism, COVID-19, Climate Change
Terrorism
The Bush Response
Big Brothers Heavy Hand
Scientific Protocol
Mertonian Norms
Poppers Falsification Standard
COVID-19
The Trump Response
Big Brothers Heavy Hand
Climate Change
Climate Skeptics
Resistance to Climate Change Policies
Big Brothers Heavy Hand on Climate Change
Caveat Emptor and the Enlightenment
4. Sociology of Totalitarianism
Writings on Totalitarianism
Early Work
Recent Explanations
Totalitarian Culture
Who Rules?
Executive Orders
Law Creation
Leviathan
Macro to Micro Connection
Socialization
Social Things Matter
The Generalized Other
The President as Generalized Other
Recipe Knowledge
Group Think
5. Might Janus Smile?
The Importance of Moral Community
It Takes a Village: Clinton and Durkheim
Freedom, Equality, and Justice
Freedom
Equality
Justice
Busy Intersection
Omaha, Omaha, Omaha
6. Conclusion
Brendan Maguire is a Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Western Illinois University. He is the co-author of Introduction to Criminology (1999), and he has published numerous articles in Sociological Focus, The Social Science Journal, and the Journal of Applied Sociology.
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