Surveillance and control in the age of information: A critical analysis of the technology-power relationship

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi, Siyaset Bilimi ve Kamu Yönetimi Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2010

Öğrenci: EVREN KURT

Danışman: BARIŞ ÇAKMUR

Özet:

This study deals with the notions and practices of surveillance and control in the current society. By this means, it aims to discuss the relation between technology and power on basis of surveillance technologies witnessed in all domains of life. With the extensive use of new technologies as camera monitoring, biometrics, and smart cards, power holders get the opportunity and tools to monitor all actions and data of individuals. How this is achieved and for what purposes and the ideology behind the surveillance practices are the main issues of this study. In accordance with this goal, the use of surveillance technologies as a tool of power to provide rationalization in which everything is visible, predictable, and controllable, to maintain social control, and to ensure the domination of power over the society is discussed through examining the applications of surveillance in Turkey and in other countries. Besides, the becoming of surveillance and control as natural and usual aspects of the current society in the eyes of people and their becoming a culture are also pointed out and analyzed in order to comprehend the location of these notions in everyday life. All these issues are discussed critically in order to analyze the role and ideological function of surveillance, in particular, and the relation of technology with power, in general.