Panoptic Neo-Dominionism (PND): Reinterpreting Oppression in the 4IR - Rahman M. Mahbub

Panoptic Neo-Dominionism (PND THEORY): Reinterpreting Oppression in the 4IR Rahman M. Mahbub, PhD Professor, Department of English City University, Bangladesh rahmanmmahbub27@gmail.com Abstract: Panoptic Neo-Dominionism (PND) offers a contemporary theoretical framework for understanding the pervasive and cyclical nature of oppression in modern society. Emerging in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), this approach reinterprets oppression beyond the confines of historical colonialism, proposing that power dynamics infiltrate all realms of human existence—ranging from intimate personal relationships to global political and economic systems. At its core, PND frames oppression as a binary between the Oppressor and the Oppressed, present in both direct and subtle forms across technological, social, emotional, and cultural domains. PND situates oppression within the globalized landscape of the 4IR, where technological and corporate entities, alongside societal constructs like gender, love, sex, and economics, serve as new forms of domination. The approach critiques how power is exercised through digital, psychological, and economic control rather than direct territorial authority, emphasizing the emergence of "Neo-Dominionism" as a global, multifaceted structure of control. The lens calls for the re-contextualization of colonial relationships, extending them into contemporary settings such as familial ties, corporate environments, and even personal relationships, arguing that these areas are rife with unequal power structures. In examining literature through this lens, PND reveals how texts embody the dynamics of oppression, as seen in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. The relationship between Pozzo and Lucky exemplifies ultra colonialism, wherein the oppressor dominates both physically and intellectually, while the oppressed is reduced to a subjugated, dependent state. This analysis of Beckett’s play highlights the cyclical, pervasive nature of oppression and its manifestation in both public and private spheres. Through its exploration of power dynamics in diverse contexts, Panoptic Neo Dominionism offers valuable insights into how oppression operates in the 21st century, urging a critical examination of how both historical and post-modern forms of subjugation shape our lived experiences. Keywords: Panoptic Neo-Dominionism, oppression, power dynamics, Fourth Industrial Revolution, ultra-colonialism