Deleuze and The Emergence of Control Societies

Exploring the Digital Shift in Power and Society

A few weeks ago, while reflecting on the people who have had a significant positive impact on my life, my thoughts went to my French professor during my time in the classes préparatoires. He was someone who truly opened my eyes to the world (I will write a post about it in the coming weeks). Recently, I managed to reestablish contact with him, and just last weekend, we reconnected over a phone conversation. Our discussion ventured into the Postmodernism, despite his extensive knowledge, he hadn't had the time to delve deeply into postmodernist authors. We talked mainly about Foucault, Derrida, and Deleuze.

I suggested that he read a short essay by Deleuze titled "Les sociétés de contrôle" which was written in 1990. Intrigued, he took up my suggestion. When we spoke again yesterday, he expressed his surprise at how presciently Deleuze had foreseen the future. Inspired by our conversation, I reread the essay this morning, and it struck me just how relevant and forward-thinking Deleuze's insights were. He envisioned a world that many of us are now living in – a world where everything has become a service controlled by platforms.

Gilles Deleuze's essay is a profound analysis of the shift from disciplinary societies to societies of control. Drawing on Foucault's ideas, Deleuze describes the evolution from societies where control was exerted through institutional enclosures like schools, factories, and families, to societies where control is more fluid, decentralized, and embedded in technology and everyday interactions.

In this essay, Deleuze outlines the rise of information technology and the digital revolution, which have transformed the way power and control are exercised. Instead of being confined to physical spaces, control has become more pervasive and integrated into our daily lives through digital platforms and networks. This reflects a change in the capitalist system itself, from one focused on the production of goods to one centered on the management of information and services.

Deleuze foresaw how services and platforms would come to dominate our lives, not just economically but also socially and politically. The concept of "control societies" is characterized by a constant modulation and adjustment of individual behaviors, where people are continuously monitored and managed through digital technologies. This represents a significant transformation from the more rigid, enclosure-based control of disciplinary societies.

In our current era, everything from our work and education to our social interactions and consumer habits is mediated by digital platforms. These platforms collect vast amounts of data about us, shaping not only the services they offer but also influencing our choices and behaviors. This constant surveillance and datafication of life contribute to a society where control is less about direct coercion and more about subtle influence and management of choices.