Study Questions
1. What is the principle behind the panopticon, and how do leaders use this means to control behavior?
2. What are atomization, peer policing, and preference falsification? How do leaders use these techniques to prevent revolutionary groups from forming?
3. Identify and describe current day examples of atomization, peer policing, and preference falsification.
4. What are the long-term risks to a leader who relies too much on force?
5. How can conflict within a group serve a beneficial function for the group and its leader?
6. How might the identification of the “other” in a foreign conflict help foster positive public support for the conflict? Provide examples.
7. In this chapter, the author argues that to understand a confusing aspect of politics, one should ask, “Who benefits?” and “How do they benefit?” Apply this method while reading an article about politics in the newspaper or watching a report about politics on television. Does asking these questions help? Why or why not?