In The Captive Mind, Czesław Miłosz provides a penetrating exploration of the human psyche under the oppressive regime of Soviet-imposed Communism in Eastern Europe. It was originally published in 1953 by the Polish writer, poet, academic, and Nobel Laureate soon after his 1951 defection from Stalinist Russia.

His examination reveals the mechanisms through which totalitarian systems exert control and the complex psychological responses of individuals to such environments. This classic work mirrors contemporary movements and ideologies, such as the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement, offering insights into the dynamics of influence, conformity, and resistance in the modern era. It also directly describes the plight of multitudes of Russian people under the current Putin dictatorship, as well as Xi’s influence over Chinese citizens.

Miłosz introduces the concept of ketman to describe individuals’ mental contortions to survive within a repressive system while secretly harboring dissent. This echoes the behavior control seen in other models of undue influence, such as in cults, where individuals are coerced into outward conformity........

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