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Utopia/Dystopia Vocabulary

Terms in this set (28)

Utopia
An imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect. The word was first used in the book Utopia (1516) by Sir Thomas More.
Dystopia
An imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one.
Socialism
An economic system in which the production and distribution of goods are controlled substantially by the government rather than by private enterprise, and in which cooperation rather than competition guides economic activity. A political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
Anarchy
A state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of authority. The absence of government and absolute freedom of the individual, regarded as a political ideal.
Peace
Freedom from civil disturbance; freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions; a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom; a state in which there is no war or fighting.
Utopian Socialism
Established by the peaceful surrender of the means of production by the capitalists moved by moral persuasion. The communal ownership of all means of production for the betterment of society as whole. Ex ¬ Star Trek.
Utilitarianism
The doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority; the doctrine that an action is right insofar as it promotes happiness, and that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principle of conduct.
Avarice
Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
Greed
A selfish and excessive desire for more of something than is needed.
Harmony
Agreement of ideas, feelings, or actions, or a pleasing combination of different parts.
Equality
The state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.
Égalité
Social or political equality.
Fraternity
The feeling of friendship that exists between people in a group.
Isolationism
A policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries.
Warmonger
A sovereign or political leader or activist who encourages or advocates aggression or warfare toward other nations or groups.
Apocalypse
An event involving destruction or damage on an awesome or catastrophic scale; the complete final destruction of the world.
Unrest
A state of dissatisfaction, disturbance, and agitation in a group of people, typically involving public demonstrations or disorder.
Allegory
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
Communal
Shared or used by members of a group or community; participated in, shared, or used in common by members of a group or community.
Representative Government
An electoral system where citizens vote to elect people to represent their interests and concerns. Those elected meet to debate and make laws on behalf of the whole community or society, instead of the people voting directly on laws and other debates.
Propaganda
Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
Dehumanize
To deprive of human qualities or attributes; divest of individuality.
Surveillance
Continuous observation of a place, person, group, or ongoing activity in order to gather information.
Dissent
Hold or express opinions that are at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially expressed.
Oppressive
Unjustly inflicting hardship and constraint, especially on a minority or other subordinate group.
Bureaucratic
Relating to the business of running an organization, or government; overly concerned with procedure at the expense of efficiency or common sense.
Sir Thomas More
An English lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman and noted Renaissance humanist; wrote Utopia, published in 1516, about the political system of an imaginary ideal island nation.
Paradise
A very beautiful, pleasant, or peaceful place that seems to be perfect; an ideal or idyllic place or state.
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