Manipulation in a Dictatorial Society

In a dictatorial regime it is fairly easy for the controlling power, whether it be a single person or an entire government, to manipulate the minds of the citizens. Generally the motive behind a dictatorship is lack of guidance and confusion among the society, perhaps following an overthrow of power. Once a dictatorship is established, the dictator is able to censor the information that his citizens receive and the citizens tend to accept the dictator for he represents some form of guidance and organization. This censorship can keep the society ignorant of the facts and, if allowed to continue for too long, can make the society highly vulnerable. When the people are forced to rely on what they are being told, with no solid evidence to support the information, they will inevitably start to lose touch with reality.

In the beginning, rebellion is nearly impossible in a confused and unorganized civilization because the people are being given some form of leadership, something they all agree that they need. As time goes on, though dissatisfaction may grow, it becomes harder for the society to rebel or to even form a consensus against the abuses of power as they generally become stronger. If, early on, the society were to form a consensus to rebel against the dictator, it is true that things would probably not work out for him. However, a dictator will usually push his limits gradually, beginning with minor manipulations of the truth and thus entrapping his citizens in a cycle that thwarts rebellion.

The dictatorial regime of Napoleon in Animal Farm is an obvious indication of the ease with which a dictator can manipulate the minds of his citizens. Napoleon takes charge of a society confused and searching for guidance. He invokes fear through his ever-present guards, the dogs, and starts his manipulation of fact gradually. The animals accept Napoleon as their leader and though there is discontent as time goes on, the majority of the animals believe what they are being told because they have nothing to support a view contrary.

A tactical dictator rises from the disoriented masses recognizing the vulnerability of the society. It is easy to see how the citizens get caught in a cycle of manipulation following the establishment of such a dictatorship for they are given, for the most part, no solid facts. Their form of knowledge is simply word of mouth and it is difficult to argue when the majority of those in the society accept the information either out of fear or lack of anything else to go by.