Surviving Dystopia: What Is Dystopia? (part 1)

By Tim Gamble

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Dystopian dis-ˈtō-pē-ən adj.: 1) of, relating to, or being a world or society in which most people lead wretched, dehumanized, fearful lives; 2) a world of high technology, marked by authoritarian government and powerful corporations, with a huge divide between a privileged elite, and a disempowered underclass they rule over.

In science fiction, a dystopian world is typically presented as one in which a small class of elites use a combination of authoritarian government, powerful and wealthy corporations, and highly advanced technology, to rule over the common people.

The world the elite create for themselves is one of extreme wealth, power, and privilege. It is created at the expense of a much larger underclass, who have slowly lost their personal liberties, economic freedoms, and privacy rights. A deep network of unelected bureaucrats and corrupt politicians, often financed and aided by the deep pockets of the corporate elite, work diligently to entrench this new order into the regulations, laws and treaties governing their world.

The propaganda used by the elites to justify this situation is marked by twisting seemingly positive words such as progress, equality, fairness, and diversity in ways to fit their agenda. At the same time, other words and ideas are made unpopular or even forbidden (political correctness, wokeism, DEI) and their use will get you ostracized or even legally punished (for so-called "hate speech crimes" and DEI infractions). 

This twisting of language, a creating of newspeak, is made possible by their near monopolistic control of the news media, pop culture, and academia. They get to shape the narratives. Traditional institutions and ideas, such as the family, God, and patriotism, are intentionally ridiculed and destroyed, leaving government as the only remaining source of authority and the focus for loyalty. Thus, this new order is firmly accepted in the minds of most of the disempowered underclass. 

But, wait... Did I say "In science fiction?" Yes, but this also sounds exactly like the world we are currently living in. Science fiction has become reality. If that is a description of a dystopian future, then the future is now. Dystopia is rising.

However, this is a reality we are not allowed to talk about. Say the wrong things, express the wrong opinions, and you will become a target. It is not just the social justice warriors and the mob mentality of cancel culture. It is the bias of corporate mainstream media. It is Big Tech kicking folks off social media and shutting down websites. It is corporate bullies like Blackrock, JP Morgan Chase, and Bank of America using their power to force other companies to pursue their woke social and political agendas. It is the weaponization of the FBI, the IRS, the DOJ and other government institutions to punish anyone who stands in the way of the elite's technocratic agenda. It is the power of political correctness, wokeism, and DEI. Control Language, Control Thought. 

But what does that mean to preppers and survivalists? What difference does it make what the threat is? How is preparing for the reality of dystopia any different from preparing for anything else we are preparing for? I'll answer that in part 2 of this article.

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