Tuesday, December 09, 2008

James Burnham...

and his "Managerial Revolution". See this in relation to Orwell's thinking behind the development of "1984".

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Burnham's Theory of the Managerial Revolution is that the world would divide into three super-states, The United States, Germany, and Japan. Also, neither capitalism nor socialism would take hold into the state. The capitalist class would be replaced by the managerial class and they would be able to keep their power by "retaining some democratic trappings" such as "political opposition, a free press, and a controlled". 1984's influence is shown in the three super powers, Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. "The Party" is able to keep their place in society above all others by their control of the press and politics as just one. There is only one political party in the state and it is able to keep others down.

Anonymous said...

As an American political theorist, James Burnham had many theories about the world in the future, especially the future effects of communism. Through his work, The Managerial Revolution, Burnham describes his idea of the three superstates, which would consist of extreme versions of the already existing countries, America, Germany, and Japan. In this type of society the idea of capitlism would cease to exist, which is the idea of individual ownership and control of production. In this society a form of government, the “power elite” would arise and consist of technichians, business executives, and soldiers. He theorized that these three superpowers would continually fight in order to gain complete control.
Burnham’s theories can be seen in George Orwell’s novel, 1984, because it was very influential to him. In the novel the three powers, Eurasia, Eastasia, and Oceania are constantly in battle in order to conquer more terrtory. The fighting occurs so much that the citizens cannot remember who they are fighting against. Due to the government’s complete control over it’s citizens they do not have the ability to think for themselves or even rebel. Orwell expands the theories of Burnham, by describing humans’ lack of individuality under a totalitarian society. He proves that in a society that is similar to communism the country will continue to fall in disarray.

Anonymous said...

The philosophy within the content of George Orwell’s 1984 is a dichotomy of James Burnham’s theory in Managerial Society and his apprehension of a totalitarian society.
Both their works state the capacity of a government and the role in plays in society. It is evident the Orwell encapsulates Burnham’s Managerial Society, in 1984, he uses the ideal or the 3 super states (The United States, Germany, and Japan) and renames them Oceania, Eurasia, and East Asia.
However the analogous component of both works is the psychology behind them, a society where government is so immense that it controls every aspect of its citizen’s life’s in order for the elite to benefit, thus drifting away from capitalism and destroying democracy. As a result the 3 powers will be at constant war for complete control of the world.
Both writers challenge the idea of a Utopian society; instead a dystopian society is exposed and made a reality, living a life of complete agony... …..

P.S Thanks A lot Whyte now I can’t sleep at night =/ LOL!

Peter Nguyen said...

George Orwell's 1984 (underlined) is influenced by James Brunham's "Managerial Revolution." In both of the works, the emphasis of a lack of individuality is drawn forth from a totalitarian state. Specifically in Burnham's "The Managerial Revolution," three super-states are controlling the world. Furthermore, Capitalism has elapsed, leaving socialism to be expected. But no, socialism would not replace it either. Instead, a fresh, new managerial class rises and becomes the dominant force. The new class maintains its power by creating opposition and having a free press. Similarly, in the the world of 1984, "The Party" is manipulating and maintaining power with the control of politics and press. THe abuse of technology also maintains the majestic power. Moreover, the three powers in 1984 Oceania, East Asia, and Eurasia are apparently similar to the superstates The United States, Germany, and Japan in the Managerial Society; Orwell's builds upon those superpowers. In the end, both the Managerial class and "The Party" have the similarity of absolute control. The control that kills the minds of its citizens; citizens of the state no longer think for themselves, so they might as well be mindless zombies, being slow and obedient to whatever controls them. Overall, Orwell's 1984 follows the idea of a Managerial society, the emphasis of a totalitarian society that controls and keeps people down like the obedient pups they are.

Anonymous said...

James Burnham's Managerial Revolution" is known to have influenced Orwell's 1984. Burnham came to realize that the USSR was never a Workers' State but the first of a new type of state run by managers, the Managerial State. He became a leading anti-Communist and Conservative. He writes that the Managerial State is socialist: power is taken out of the hands of the wealthy, and vested in public managers aiming at relative equality and full employment. In Burnham's theory, he saw that in the postwar period, the world would would divide into three super-states of enlarged versions of U.S., Germany, and Japan. Orwell turns this idea into Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. Capitalism would disappear, but Socialism will not be a replacement. A new managerial class composed of business executives, technicians, bureaucrats, and soldiers would dominate society. In 1984, this idea becomes the Inner and Outer Party.

HoLLY viNcENt said...

Burnham's theory of the Managerial Revolution heavily influenced George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four". As described in the The Managerial Revolution, Burnham held that in the postwar period the world would divide into three super-states, with essentially enlarged versions of the existing the United States, Germany, and Japan, which would compete amongst themselves for world power. More important, capitalism was disappearing, yet socialism would not replace it. Neither, for that matter, would democracy ever be ascendant. A new, managerial class, rather than the working class, was replacing the old capitalist class as society's dominant power elite. The managerial class includes business executives, technicians, bureaucrats, and soldiers; example societies are Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. It is important to note that Burnham defined capitalism as the individual ownership and control of the means of production, which is distinct from the modern corporation, a legally established shareholders association with no direct control over the means of production.

Anonymous said...

“The Managerial Revolution” by James Burnham is about his view of how the world would divide into three super states. The three states that would compete amongst themselves are the United States, Japan, and Germany. When capitalism disappeared, the managerial class begins to dominate society. This new centralized society is neither capitalist nor democratic. The managerial class, which includes business executives, technicians, soldiers, and bureaucrats, will organize a society so that all of the power and economic privileges will remain in their hands. The society uses a hierarchy to separate the talent and most powerful at the top from the weak slaves at the bottom. Burnham novel shapes Orwell’s 1984 because in Orwell’s novel he wrote about how the people of Oceania are blinded and oppressed by the totalitarian state. Like Winston they are part of the outer circle, which means that they do not share the same privileges as the inner circle. Also, because they are so oppressed by the state, they remained powerless and unable to rebel because they are physically and mentally controlled. In 1984, there are also three states (Eurasia, Eastasia, and Oceania) that continue to fight for control and power like what Burnham had said about the United States, Japan, and Germany.

Anonymous said...

In the "The Managerial Revolution" Burnham states that a new class is taking over society. He names this class the managerial class and it consists of business executives, technicians, bureaucrats, and soldiers. This is relevant to 1984 in that it also has four groups that manage all the people of Oceania these groups are the four ministries which are the ministry of truth, ministry of love, ministry of plenty, and the ministry of peace.

Anonymous said...

George Orwell's 1984 is heavily influenced by James Burnham's "Managerial Revolution". Burnham believes that the power of politics will coincide between three super states, Japan, Germany, and the United States. These states are represented by Eurasia, Eastasia, and Oceania in 1984. He states that politics will no longer consist of democracy or capitalism, but rather a system of totalitarianism. Like in Orwell's novel, these governments are made up of the elite class. They obtain such great power that they eventually become able to control the thoughts and beliefs of every citizen. Society is eventually disciplined to the point that rebellion never occurs to them.

Anonymous said...

James Burnham's "Managerial Revolutin" philosophy demonstrates how the three super states known as the United States, Germany, and Japan constantly compete for world power. Eventually capitalism will perish and will not be substituted by socialism but instead there will come a new social class known as the Managerial Class. This class includes the business executives, technicians, soldiers, and buneaucrats who will rule. This system would run through power by creating opposition and having a free press. The Managerial Class also uses hierarchy in order to divide the social classes. Like in 1984, Orwell uses this influence as part of his novel. Like the "Managrial Class", Orwell uses "The Party" in order to manipulate its citizens. Oceania is also divided into social classes, the lower known as the proles. Like the three super states, Orwell introduces Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia who compete to gain world power. Oceania manipulates the people to keep control and the citizens lack individuality due to this cause.

Anonymous said...

In “The Managerial Revolution,” Burnham says that a society which is not capitalist or democratic is replacing the current society. This new society is made up of, according to Burnham, by people who successfully control production. This group is made up of business executives, technicians, bureaucrats and soldiers. This group of people are said to be the ones to get rid of the old capitalist class, defeat the working class, and organize a society that all power and economic freedom stay in their hands. This is similar to what is seen in 1984, because in the novel there are four ministries which are controlling everything. The ministries work to destroy the people. The ministries are trying to destroy the people by destroying what they think, do, and who they are.

Anonymous said...

In the “Managerial Revolution,” James Burnham believes capitalism is fading and a new totalitarian-like state, which will consist of ruling group that controls all functions of a society (including its economy), will substitute the old government. The working class [the proles in 1984] will be suppressed by the controlling group or “managers” [the party/BB]. These societies become the super-states: Europe, Asia, and America [Oceania, East/Eurasia]; and, the three states will fight each other for the gain of even more power and control, much like Oceania v. Eurasia and later Oceania v. Eastasia.

Anonymous said...

Burnham sees that capitalism is fading away and a democratic society would soon be gone. The new society would include the rulers would can control the means of production who are bureaucrats and business executives. These "managers" will take down the old capitalist class and destroy the working class, just like in 1984. They keep a low/middle class to stay low in order to retain power. By letting the lower class know that their only option is to live in poverty, then they will not revolt. Such a society is no longer democratic. Power hunger is strong within human beings and once the upper class finds an opprtunity to use their potential, then they will use it to their advantage. the "managerial" societies will be devided into three super-states, Europe, Asia, and America. Orwell integrates this into 1984 to demonstrate the intense rise of power. They will fight among each toher to gain possession of the earth. That is the way for them to increase their strength.