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Globalized Total Institution

Madison Beverley

Durham College

SOCI 1407

Professor Patrick Dwyer

December 7, 2020
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When one logs into social media or views the news, the first headlines to pop up

nowadays are all related to the coronavirus pandemic, politics, and celebrities. The face value of

each of these topics (case numbers, election results, new relationship, etc.) are misleading to the

powerful magnitude of micro consequences and societal impact they hold – precisely which

those in positions of power wish for. If one were to delve deeper into each of these topics, they

would find concepts such as isolation, globalized order, and loss of identity/universal standards.

The world today is being subtly shifted into carefully moulded and structured ideals by the hands

of powerful identities. Earth itself is turning into a globalized total institution through the means

of mass resocialization – a concept that was inherently impossible to achieve before

technological advancement created easily accessible global communication and unification.

Goffman’s concept of total institutions is characterized by methods of resocialization

through means such as monitoring of life, loss of identity, coercion, loss of freedom, loss of

rights, loss of connections/isolation and mortifications of the self (Goffman, 1990). All of these

aspects are witnessable in the daily lives of the modern human population, but specifically

noticeable and emphasized during the pandemic. The talk of globally mandating the COVID-19

vaccine or providing restrictions on those who do not take it are already in political works. In

Ontario, failure to comply to specific vaccines could result in consequences relating to isolation

from society through means such as firing from occupation, no admittance to schools, and refusal

of passports/travel [ CITATION Wal11 \l 4105 ]. Mandating a pandemic vaccine can increase

involuntary control over a population - especially when leaks of viable nano technology is

involved in the news [ CITATION Hun20 \l 4105 ]. This is just one example of the coercion

regarding loss of rights and freedoms prominently exhibited nowadays. Furthermore,

mortifications of the self and loss of identity are being instilled in the general population,
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specifically the younger generations, through emphasized norms and standards. The models for

these standards are the celebrities being showcased globally through mass media. Unique

identity is being erased with globally accepted unification being the norm, specifically that of

physical and beauty standards. Failure to fall under or comply with set standards has created

psychological seeking and compliance to self-mortification. Extreme methods are being taken

and utilized just to achieve the standards set by society. Unbelievably expensive plastic surgery

and rib removal are two examples of the extremities people are taking to achieve these standards.

Lastly, isolation from society, not just social distancing, is being encouraged and heavily

reinforced by medical and government officials such as the World Health Organization

[CITATION Wor20 \l 4105 ]. This mandated isolation is taxing and allows for excused monitoring

of the everyday life by those with power. This could seem new and scary to many, if not for the

fact this encouragement of isolation and monitoring of individuals has not already been

occurring on a mass scale. Technological advancements have been the prime reinforcer in the

isolation of the self, creating an individualistic society that thrives off of fake interactions. No

more do people have to get up and out of bed to communicate with others, instead being able to

achieve this from under the warmth of their covers. This limiting of social interaction within

society has desirable opportunities for those in power, and consequences for those not (Macionis

et al., 2017). Monitoring through technology has become the new normal and the general

population is being strategically monitored and evaluated every day [ CITATION Har18 \l 4105 ].

The old concept of living in a free world has been skillfully eradicated. People are being

engineered to become unified under globalized standards and comply to the ideals of those in

power. In my localized region, people are becoming blind to the agents of resocialization and I
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chose this topic to hopefully bring some awareness to this subject. A globalized ‘total institution’

is taking over right now, and I do not wish to be a part of it.

Evaluating the concept of a globalized total institution, it is imperative one analyzes the

core foundations of this societal problem from a social-conflict approach. The social-conflict

approach analyzes the social inequality and the rippling projection of inevitable consequences

that impact society [ CITATION Mac17 \l 4105 ]. This approach is primarily utilized when the

possible attributors to the conflict are identified, allowing an explanation as to why the conflict

exists [ CITATION Bar02 \l 4105 ]. The primary part of a globalized total institution that needs to

come under scrutiny is the misusage of power found in class inequality, a concept created

through Marxist-theory (Macionis et al., 2017). A staple to total institutions is the distinct

separation of power between those running the institution and those in the institution (Goffman

1990). In regard to a globalized institution, it is definitively those in the upper, first-class that

desire those in lower classes to fall into the ‘inmate’ institution roles. Government officials,

celebrities, and the rich maintain their freedom and power by creating unconscious

resocialization and conformity to their ideals. This creates an unhealthy influx of power to those

who control the standards set. Unfair exemption from rules is the first indicator that class-

inequality is a primary founder existing in this dilemma. The first-class citizen can navigate

through the boundaries set forth in the pandemic due to their positions of power or wealth that

the ordinary citizen cannot. Another indicator that class inequality is a main factor in globalized

resocialization is that they are exempt from the mental and psychological ramifications of the

loss of identity experienced. They are the individuals who get to project the societal standards,

therefore projecting their unique identity to be the desirable, acceptable one. The class inequality

also consequentially reinforces the problem of capitalism being the other major influence. Total
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institutions are regularly run by the state and are profitable in the sense that they can successfully

re-socialize the people in the institution [ CITATION Mac17 \l 4105 ]. Government officials,

celebrities, and the rich are first class and profitable due to the re-socialized citizen who feeds

into their agendas. The capitalist method is inherently a contributor to the further desire of

globalizing their ‘total institution’. A world-wide resocialization would have bountiful and

positive effects for those running the institution.

In the background of a social-conflict problem lies the solution in the form of critical

sociology (Macionis et al., 2017). Critical sociology requires individual thought and perspective

to be vocalized, asking questions about political and moral inequality and abuse of power

(Macionis et al., 2017). It is imperative to the people who do not wish to see the world turn into a

globalized institution that critical thinking and questioning of those in power takes place. When

turning on the news or social media, it is important to remember that news companies are

commonly funded by the state and can be influenced and biased. It is also important to ask

questions and not take everything that is heard or seen on media for face value. Reading between

the lines and doing individual research is a key requirement to understanding hidden agendas and

ulterior motives. Being active in regard to change and politics is vital. Simple actions such as

voting can make a difference. Additionally, evaluating the global perspective and determining

where the world resides societally is very beneficial (Macionis et al., 2017). Actions as simple as

voicing opinions even when they go against the majority, continued projection of identity, and

attending the organization of events or groups that are advocating for the voice of genuine

refusal to resocialization agents are detrimental.

In conclusion, the workings of a globalized total institution are wreaking havoc on the

individualism and unique identity of those in society. The first-class citizens and those benefitted
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by capitalist endeavours are taking advantage of the lower classes. Hidden motives and

unvoluntary resocialization are taking place right under the noses of the human population. It is

vital that critical thinking and action takes place to restore and maintain a diverse society that

projects positive reinforcement for individual socialization. Globalized resocialization is not the

answer to any problems, nor beneficial to any person. A globalized total institution is harmful to

society and will be the true killer of physical, mental, and psychological freedom.
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Appendix

This photo demonstrates the set standards that celebrities are setting upon society. People
are losing their individuality and trying to all look the same because that is the ideals put forth by
those with more power. The resocialization of acceptable images and norms is being globalized,
branching out to touch each country in the world.
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References
Bartos, O. J., & Wehr, P. (2002). Using Conflict Theory. Cmabridge University Press.

Goffman, E. (1990). Asylums: Essays on the social situation of mental patients and other

inmates. New York: Doubleday.

Harvard Law Review. (2018, April 10). Cooperation or Resistance?: The Role of Tech

Companies in Government Surveillance. Retrieved from Harvard Law Review:

https://harvardlawreview.org/2018/04/cooperation-or-resistance-the-role-of-tech-

companies-in-government-surveillance/

Hun Chung, Y., Beiss, V., Fiering, S. N., & Steinmitz, N. F. (2020, October 9). Retrieved from

ACS Publications: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.0c07197

Macionis, J. J., Jansson, M., Benoit, C. M., & Burkowicz, J. (2017). Society: The Basics, Sixth

Canadian Edition. Toronto: Pearson.

Walkinshaw, E. (2011). Retrieved from https://canvax.ca/mandatory-vaccinations-canadian-

picture

WHO. (2020, October 12). WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on

COVID-19 - 12 October 2020. Retrieved from WHO Int.: https://www.who.int/director-

general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-

on-covid-19---12-october-2020