State-Surveillance Nexus in George Orwell’s 1984: A Revisionist Reading

Abstract

A totalitarian regime represents a form of governance where absolute authoritarian control permeates every aspect of public and private life, fostering grave consequences such as the ruthless suppression of individual liberties, pervasive censorship, economic stagnation, and profound societal trauma. The far-reaching implications of such regimes have ignited the imaginations of many literary figures, most notably George Orwell, whose incisive critique of societal injustice and political deception is masterfully captured in 1984. In this seminal work, Orwell constructs a dystopian world ruled by omnipotent rulers who surveil and dictate every facet of individual existence. The chilling portrayal of the totalitarian regime is inextricably
linked to the concept of the Panopticon, a theoretical model first conceived by the English philosopher Jeremy Bentham. However, Michel Foucault profoundly expanded the Panopticon’s significance, introducing the theory of Panopticism —a framework illustrating a system of social governance marked by rigorous regulation and surveillance, akin to the mechanisms of a prison. In the contemporary world, AI surveillance and deep learning technologies manifest a modern incarnation of this panoptic apparatus, underscoring the enduring relevance of Bentham’s and Foucault’s ideas. The despotic machinations of Orwell’s tyrannical regime find eerie parallels in the ubiquitous surveillance apparatus of contemporary times, epitomised by the relentless march of AI-driven technologies. This paper explores Orwell’s narrative, Bentham’s architectural vision, and Foucault’s theoretical insights that intricately weave together panoramic views on power, control, and resistance that transcend both historical and contemporary contexts.