The Managed Society

For any of us naive enough to wonder just how it is possible for one delusional megalomaniac to hold to ransom 24-million people as their divinely-inspired, infallible leader, protector of the nation's virtues, their dear father-figure, renowned on the world stage for his scholarly acumen, his brilliance as a military tactician, respected as a political leader of impeccable lineage and scientific knowledge, one may look no further than the imposition of social engineering.

When Israel was a fledgling state, out of practical necessity, and also scientific-social curiosity in pioneering a new country in a hostile environment, kibbutzim were established; social agricultural workplace communities where equality was fostered and children were taken at an early age from their parents to be raised by day in group nurseries, returned to their parents in the evening, to eat in communal dining halls and live in a social commune.

When North Korea's new communist-inspired-and-dedicated state was established by Kim Il-sung, the founder of the new North Korea, another type of social order was established, where too, children were taken at an early age from their parents to be raised in communal nurseries. There, from a tender age, they were taught to revere their nation's 'father', the illustrious Kim Il-sung, and to sing songs of praise to his brilliance and his longevity as an immortal.

This, then goes a long way to explaining how children can be moulded and modelled upon a perceived ideal that will make them complacent and complicit in their own bondage to a system of social communism, implicitly obeying orders and meekly accepting their lot as citizens indentured to a social-fascist state. There is nothing particularly new about attempts to mould children into a state of being that would reflect the needs of the state; it goes as far back as Plato's Republic.

And since their fearless sun-king leader who is the fount of all that is good and desirable in their lives, within a country that is locked within itself and the outside world's influences locked out, this is normalcy, and acceptable, for there is no yardstick of comparison to anything resembling human rights and freedoms of the individual, nor aspirations for a different kind of present or future.

When Kim Jong-il died unexpectedly as far as North Koreans were concerned, anticipated as far as the outside world knew of his health condition, the people of North Korea were faced with a catastrophe of unimagined proportions. For they could not imagine life without their Dear Leader. With the exception of those North Koreans who knew more, imagined more, and who had dared to escape - into South Korea, or to China.

The sole state broadcaster brought forward examples for the people to emulate in their grief: "indescribable sorrow" being modelled for others to follow as they interviewed a series of loyal cadres and civilians weeping uncontrollably with the burden of their sorrow at the loss of the sun that rises in the east and sets in the east. "They are not even trying to wipe away tears and are convulsing with pain and despair caused by the loss", intoned the state broadcaster.

Setting the standard for those on the street to follow faithfully. For this was the very shining leader whose birth brought a double rainbow to the sky, and a new star to brighten the firmament. This was their Glorious General Who Descended from Heaven, their Respected, Wise, Brilliant and Unique Leader; their Beloved Father and Mastermind of the Revolution.

Whose reign despoiled the country. Diverting scarce funds to the establishment of a nuclear industry that proudly shocked the world by setting off two nuclear explosions, and boasting that its advanced ballistic missiles were capable of sending nuclear-tipped destruction to the very shores of North America. Whose belligerence and militant violence toward South Korea and threats to Japan made it a pariah state.

This was the empathetic, caring Dear Leader whose birthdays were celebrated by sumptuous parties while the common people were in a state of deprivation of the basic necessities of existence. This was the Expert Oarsman who guided his country to the deaths of a million North Koreans from famine and disease.