Controlled society Quote by Zbigniew Brzezinski
““Another threat, less overt but no less basic, confronts liberal democracy. More directly linked to the impact of technology, it involves the gradual appearance of a more controlled and directed society. Such a society would be dominated by an elite whose claim to political power would rest on allegedly superior scientific knowhow. Unhindered by the restraints of traditional liberal values, this elite would not hesitate to achieve its political ends by using the latest modern techniques for influencing public behavior and keeping society under close surveillance and control. Under such circumstances, the scientific and technological momentum of the country would not be reversed but would actually feed on the situation it exploits. … Persisting social crisis, the emergence of a charismatic personality, and the exploitation of mass media to obtain public confidence would be the steppingstones in the piecemeal transformation of the United States into a highly controlled society.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Future of Democracy, 1995
A technocratic elite could use advanced science and media to erode liberal values and create a highly controlled society.
In simple terms: Tech elites may undermine democracy through surveillance and media control.
Guard democratic institutions against technocratic overreach.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- media regulation
- public education
- civil liberties monitoring
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance technological progress with democratic safeguards?
- What mechanisms prevent elite capture of scientific authority?
Relies on speculative future scenarios; may overstate cohesion of elite.