The New Totalitarianism

1. The New Totalitarianism Frank W. Elwell, TheEvolution of theFuture, 1991

2. Totalitarianism in Futurist Literature • A verycommonthemeamongfuturists is thatgovernmentsthroughouttheworldarerapidlymovingtowardtotalitariancontrol of social, political, andeconomic life. • Therearetwodistinctvisions of totalitarianism in futuristliterature: • Thefirst is thetype of totalitariangovernmentthat is based on terrorandforce. Examplesare Nazi Germany, StalinistRussia, andOrwell’s 1984. • Thesecond, “newtotalitarianism”, is founded on the ever moresophisticatedmethods of manipulationandcontrolgiven us byscience (includingsocialscience) andtechnology. It has beendescribedbyAldousHuxley in his famousnovelBrave New World (1991).

3. TheRationale of Totalitarianism • Writers in thetotalitariantraditionseecontrol as made “necessary” bypopulationgrowth, theincreasingworldcompetitionforresourcesandmarkets (andsubsequentcallsforredistributionwithinandbetweencountries), theincreasingcomplexities of theindustrialmode of production, andthecrisis of environmentaldegradation. • ThirdWorldcountriescompriseabout 80% of theworld’spopulation. Themajoragecategory is a youngpopulationbetween 15-35, lookingforworkandhousing, andcarryinghighexpectations. Whentheirexpectations fail to be met, theyaretheoneslikelytorebel, engage in terroristacts, oremigrate.

4. TheRationale of Totalitarianism • ThirdWorldpopulationsarealsoincreasingly urban. Thepeoplemovingintocities form a surplus of manpowerwho do not havetheskillsnecessaryforemployment. ThirdWorldcitieshavedifficultyprovidingforthebasicneeds of theirresidents, letalonethesurge of newcomers. The ever growingconcentration of peoplewhoarepoorwillintensifyenvironmentalproblemssuch as pollutionanddepletion. • Thehighconcentration of peoplewhoareyoung, hungry, andunemployedwill put enormousstrain on existingpoliticalandeconomicinstitutions. A tidalwave of humanbeingsdemandingfood, shelter, work, livableenvironments, andhumandignity is likelytobringabouttotalitariangovernment in theThirdWorld.

5. TheRationale of Totalitarianism “In an underdevelopedandover-populatedcountry, wherefour-fifths of thepeoplegetlessthantwothousandcalories a dayandone-fifthenjoys an adequatediet, can democraticinstitutionsarisespontaneously? Oriftheyshould be imposedfromtheoutsideorfromabove, can theypossiblysurvive?” AldousHuxley

6. TheRationale of Totalitarianism Whenevertheeconomic life of a nationbecomesprecarious, thecentralgovernment is forcedtoassumeadditionalresponsibilitiesforthe general welfare. Itmustworkoutelaborateplansfordealingwith a criticalsituation, it mustimpose ever greaterrestrictionsupontheactivities of itssubjects, andif, as is verylikely, worseningeconomicconditionsresult in politicalunrest, oropenrebellion, thecentralgovernmentmustintervenetopreservepublicorderanditsownauthority. Moreandmorepower is thenconcentrated in thehands of theexecutivesandtheirbureaucraticmanagers… Unrestandinsecurityleadtomorecontrolbycentralgovernmentsand an increase of theirpower. Intheabsence of a constitutionaltradition, thisincreasedpowerwillprobably be exercised in a dictatorialfashion(Huxley, 1959).

7. IndustrialIntensification • Manyfuturistsfeelthatdemocracyandfreedomarethreatenedbythecontinuingintensification of theindustrialmode of production. One of thechiefreasonsgivenforthecoming of totalitarianism is runawayindustrialgrowth. Governmentswill be forcedto be morepowerful in ordertocontroltheresultingdepletionandpollution of the planet. • Industrialism is committedtogrowth. Growth is themechanismbywhichindustrialsocietyincreasestheabsoluteincometoallclasses, as described in the “trickledowntheory”. If a governmentlimitsgrowth (industrialproduction) in the name of environmentalnecessity, it wouldviolatethebasicvalues of theindustrialsociety; i.e. efficiencyandthecreation of ever morematerialwealth. • Theoldtype of totalitarianism is outmoded as it hindersthefreeexchange of ideasessentialfortechnologicalandsocialinnovationthatwouldmaintaingrowth. • Anysystem of governmentthatevolvesmusthavetheheartsandminds of itspeopleso as toefficientlycoordinateandcontrolcomplexproductionanddistributionsystems.

8. The New Totalitarianism: SocialControl • Thenewtotalitarianism is not based on terrorandexternalforce, althoughthepolicepowers of thestateundergirditsauthority. Humanorganizationthatdepends on theconstantuse of forceandintimidationtodisciplineitsmembers is extremelyinefficientandultimatelyineffective. A systembasedsolely on forcemustspendmuchenergypolicingitsmembers; it stiflesinitiative, and it provides an obvioustargetforrallyingopposition. • Rather, thenewtotalitarianism is founded on sophisticatedmethods of socialcontrolprovidedbyscienceandtechnology. Thetrulyefficientorganization is based on thetechniques of surveillanceandmanipulation.

9. The New Totalitarianism • Throughtechniques of targeted propaganda, pressmanagement, surveillance, computerizedrecords, andtherise of thetherapeuticperspective – allaccomplishedwithindemocraticandfree market forms – thestatewillexertitspowermoreefficientlythanwaspossible in thepast. • This “softening” of power, placingthevelvetgloveovertheironfist of thestate, makes it muchmoredifficulttodetectoroppose.

10. Surveillance • Theuse of sophisticatedelectronicmonitoringsystems is pervasiveeven in democraticsocieties. Video-camerasarecommonplace in stores, banks, subwaysandstreetcorners. Computerinformationsystemshavethecapability of electronicallymonitoringmost of ouractions. • Privateandpublicbureaucraciesconstruct data basescontaininginformationaboutourfinancialtransactions, criminalrecords, taxes, credit, magazine subscriptions, employment, welfareassistance, health, bankingandotherpersonal data . As a result, wehavelostmost of ourprivacy, openingourselvestomanipulationandcontrolbythesepowerfulorganizations. • Securityconcernsoverthethreat of terrorismorcrimeareusedtojustifytheslowerosion of freedom. The sense of privacy is beingreplacedwiththepervasivefeeling of beingwatched.

11. Manipulation • Advances in thescienceandtechnology of manipulation (radio, television, press) meettheneedforsocialcontrolbyelites at the top of commercialandpoliticalhierarchies. • Commercial propaganda is essential in a capitalisticsociety. Thetechniques of advertisingrely on themanipulation of symbolsthatcreate a bridgebetweentheconsumer’sunconsciousdesires, fearsoranxietiesandtheproductbeingsold. But theadvertisingtechniquesdevelopedtosellindustrialgoodsandservicesareharmfulwhenappliedtopoliticalcampaigns. Democracy can onlysurviveifthepeoplestayknowledgeableandmakerationalchoicesbased on unbiasedinformationandenlightened self-interest. • Image, particularlytheimage put forth on television, has becomemoreimportantthanreality.

12. TherapyfortheDeviant • Based on themedical model of care, thetherapeuticmethodforsocialcontrol is focused on changingtheindividualtobetter fit thesocialenvironment. Underthisperspective, crimeanddeviancebecomediseasesto be treated. Peopleplacedunderthismedical model of treatmentaredeniedbasicconstitutionalsafeguards. • Undersuch a system, thecoercivepower of thestateincreasesdramatically. Thisapproach is difficulttooppose: thestate is not punishing but acting as a “friend” or “helper”. But bydoingso it is denyingthepoliticalnature of thedeviantact; it is removingtheneedtoimprovesocialconditions. Statepowerconfrontstheindividualeverywhere in the name of orderandsecurity.

13. New Totalitarianism: TheAppearance of Democracy • Electionsserve as a greatasset in consolidatingtheexistingsocialorderbypropagatingtheappearances of popular rule. Peoplemight be movedtooverthrow a tyrant but not an electedgovernment. Electionslegitimatetherule of thegovernmentbyinvesting it withthe moral authority of popular consent. • Innewtotalitarianism, freedomanddemocracywillcontinueto be thetheme of speeches, andelections, supremecourts, congressandtheconstitutionwillremain in place. • “Meanwhiletherulingoligarchyanditshighlytrainedelite of soldiers, policemen, thoughtmanufacturersandmind-manipulatorswillquietlyruntheshow as theysee fit” (Huxley, 1959).

14. RecommendedReading • Brave New WorldbyAldousHuxley, 1932. Set in London of 2540, thenovelexpressesparticularlythefear of losingindividualidentity in thefast-pacedworld of thefuture. Technologicaldevelopmentscombinetochangesociety: TheWorldState is created as an eternallypeaceful, stable global society in whichgoodsandresourcesareplentifulandeveryone is happy. But this is achieved at theexpense of individualdiversityandfreedom. In 1999, thenovelwasrankedfifthamongthe 100 BestEnglish-languageNovels of the 20th Centurybythe Modern Library.