Activity3:ExploringKeyConcepts

Thefollowingpoliticalconceptsoftencomeupindiscussionsof 1984:

AuthoritarianThegovernmentistheauthority.Theindividualobeys.Thisistheoppositeofa
libertarianphilosophy,inwhichthegovernmentleavestheindividualaloneasmuchaspossible.

TotalitarianIntotalitarianrule,thegovernmenttriestocontroleveryaspectofthelivesofits
citizens,includingtheirthoughtsandbeliefs,byanymeanspossible.

OligarchicalCollectivismAristotledefinesthreetypesofgovernment,eachwithagoodformin
whichtherulerorrulershavethegoodofthestateinmindandabadforminwhichtherulers
governbyselfinterest.

AristotlesThreeFormsofGovernment
Type

GoodForm

BadForm

OneRuler

Monarchy:rulebyonewise
person

Tyranny:rulebyonebadperson

SmallGroup
Rule

Aristocracy:rulebyafewwise
people

Oligarchy:rulebyafewbad
people

MassRule

Polityorconstitutional
government:rulebythepeople
forthegoodofthewhole

Democracy:rulebythepeople
forindividualselfinterest

AristotleusesthesetermsabitdifferentlyfromhowtheyareusedintheU.S.today.
Collectivismemphasizesthegoodofthewholeovertheindividual.

UtopiaAperfect,happysocietyinwhichallofhumanitiesproblemshavebeensolved.

AntiUtopia or DystopiaA nightmare society in which lifeisasdifficultand unhappyasitcould

beoftentheresultoftryingtocreateautopia.

Insmallgroups,discussthepoliticalconceptsabove.Howdotheyapplytovariouscountriesin
theworldtoday?HowdotheyapplytotheU.S.?Writedownyourgroupsideasinyour
notebook.