The Use of Government Control in 1984 in Comparison to the North Korean Regime

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Correspondingly, the North Korean regime documented stories of their current leader Kim Jong Un in school textbooks based on an article in the Washington State University. “In North Korean textbooks that are taught at schools, it is recorded that Kim Jong-Un was able to drive a car at the age of 3. In another book at a North Korean public school, is an inspirational true story about Kim Jong-Un emerging victorious in a yacht race at the age of 9” (Martinez 2) Based on these examples it’s clear to say that both governments have incorporated stories that seem falsified. In 1984, the story made it seem like life before the revolution was worse when we know that it probably wasn’t. They incorporated this story in a children’s history book so that children are brought up from falsified information that benefits the Party. As for Kim Jong-Un’s story, its unbelievable that a child at age 3 could develop those skills. However, by incorporating these stories in school textbooks, the North Korean regime has a better chance of manipulating the youth, who are a large portion of their population. Through this, the children are also encouraged to admire and respect their leaders so that as they grow up, they will be on the government’s side. For this reason, the citizens of both governments have no choice but to believe in what they say since that is the only source of information they are getting. Thus, both governments are effective in remaining in control.

As a final point, both governments attempt to manipulate their citizens through their use of propaganda, in particular, slogans. Slogans are an effective way for totalitarian governments to convince citizens to accept their ideas because it allows them feel superior (Gill 1). In the novel 1984, Winston constantly refers to the slogan “WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.” (Orwell 6). This slogan uses the concept of “doublethink” which is “…to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them…” (Orwell 37). The first part, “War is Peace”, considers the idea of how although Oceania is at war with Eurasia/Eastasia, the citizens continue to act like they are at peace. “Freedom is Slavery” is a way the party manipulates the citizens into thinking that when they are slaves, they are free, vice versa. The same idea goes along with “Ignorance is Strength”, that whatever the party tells the citizens is true such as when Winston says “In the end the party would announce that two and two make five and you would have to believe it.” (Orwell 83) Altogether, this slogan is effective in manipulating the people of Oceania into doing whatever the party tells them as well as assuring the party that they will continue to remain in power.

Comparably, the North Korean regime also has many slogans, in particular, "Let us fight devotedly for respected Supreme Commander Comrade Kim Jong Un!" (Talmadge 3). Through this slogan, the North Korean regime attempts to persuade their citizens into thinking that by fighting for Kim Jong-Un, a “respected Supreme Commander Comrade" (Talmadge 3), they are doing something right as well as allowing themselves to feel superior. All in all, the use of slogans as propaganda from both governments have “influenced people through the use of their emotively charged words” (Gill 1). The main goal for totalitarian governments is to assure that they remain in power and through the use of slogans, they were both effective in manipulating their citizens into agreeing with whatever they have to say.

Another form of propaganda that both governments use is promoting their leaders through posters and brands. In 1984, Winston describes “On each landing, opposite the lift shaft, the poster with the enormous face gazed from the wall… BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU…” (Orwell 3). These posters are a way for the party to manipulate their citizens into thinking that it’s impossible to commit thoughtcrime when he’s always watching you but at the same manipulate them to believe that Big Brother is also protecting you. Both ways produce the same result, that the citizens can’t take away the party’s power.

Similarly, the North Korean regime’s current leader Kim Jon-Un has branded dogs as “superfood” according to The Sun. “He is promoting canines as rich in vitamins, and says for the best possible flavour pups should be beaten to death… It promotes the meat as having more vitamins than other animals, including chicken, beef, pork and duck.” (Nauman 6) According to The Problems of Human Rights in North Korea, North Korea is a country that also violates North Koreans’ human rights through starvation (4), and by using dogs as a means of propaganda, Kim Jong-Un is effective in manipulating people to kill considering many of them are in hunger. As a result, many citizens are manipulated into thinking that Kim Jong-Un is a good leader, which would help him stay in power.

In conclusion, the future that Orwell feared as well as portrayed in his novel 1984, has already come. The idea of a totalitarian dictatorship is clearly evident through the North Korean regime. Both governments have used similar methods to constantly control and manipulate their citizens through their deprivation of freedom of speech, information, religion and their use of propaganda. Although the Party seemed to have won in 1984, I believe that even though North Korea is very similar, information from the outside world is beginning to reach the people of North Korea and it will become more and more difficult for the North Korean regime to avoid that.

WORKS CITED

WEBSITES

- Gill, Megan L., and John Brown. North Korea: the role of propaganda in the sustainability of the Kim regime. Thesis. Georgetown University, Washington D.C, 2012. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2017.

- Martinez, Ryan. "Washington State University." Spring 2015 Propaganda and media control in North Korea Comments. N.p., 10 Jan. 2015. Web. 14 Jan. 2017.

- Talmadge, Eric. "North Korea just announced a new set of inspirational slogans - here are some of the translations." Business Insider. Business Insider, 18 Feb. 2016. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.

- "The Problems of Human Rights in North Korea." The Problems of Human Rights in North Korea. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.

- Mail online, Jenny Stanton For. "Revealed, North Korea's 20 crimes punishable by execution: Don't dare 'disrupt preparations for war' or commit an 'extraordinarily grave act of delinquency'" Daily Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 14 May 2015.