Censorship: Suppressing or prohibiting the publication or broadcast of news, online content, or any form of media that the government might find threatening or contrary to its narratives.
Propaganda: Spreading selective information or misinformation to promote the state’s views and discredit opponents.
Control over Education: Manipulating the educational system to promote the state’s ideology and omit or distort historical events or viewpoints.
2. Economic Dependence:
Limited Economic Mobility: Ensuring that there are limited opportunities for economic advancement without the state’s intervention or support.
Resource Monopolization: Controlling crucial resources, ensuring that the population is dependent on the state for basic needs.
Financial Surveillance: Monitoring citizens’ financial transactions to suppress dissent through economic pressures.
3. Surveillance and Policing:
Mass Surveillance: Using technology and other means to monitor citizens’ actions, communications, and movements.
Intimidation and Harassment: Employing police or other security forces to intimidate, harass, or arrest political opponents or outspoken critics.
Restricted Movement: Implementing strict controls on the movement of citizens, both within the country and across borders.
4. Psychological Control:
Cult of Personality: Elevating a leader to a near-godlike status, where questioning the leader is tantamount to treason.
Fearmongering: Constantly emphasizing external threats, whether real or imagined, to justify oppressive measures and to create an “us versus them” mentality.
Divide and Rule: Encouraging or exploiting divisions (ethnic, religious, political) among the populace to prevent unified opposition against the government.
5. Legal and Institutional:
Legal Repression: Using laws to suppress dissent, such as anti-protest laws, blasphemy laws, or laws against “spreading false information.”
Lack of Judicial Independence: Ensuring the judiciary acts in the government’s favor, often leading to unfair trials and judgments.
6. Suppression of Civil Society:
Restricting NGOs: Imposing stringent regulations or outright bans on non-governmental organizations (NGOs), especially those receiving foreign funding or those involved in human rights work.
Limiting Freedom of Assembly: Placing severe restrictions on public gatherings, protests, and other forms of collective expression.
