A Sociological Analysis of Incipient Totalitarianism in the United States

Book excerpt: 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.