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‘Who controls the present controls the past’: What Orwell’s ‘1984’ explains about the twisting of history to control the public

theconversation.com · 1,457 words · saved by 1 readers

Laura Beers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. American University provides funding as a member of The Conversation US. View all partners When people use the term “Orwellian,” it’s not a good sign. It usually characterizes an action, an individual or a society that is suppressing freedom, particularly the freedom of expression. It can also describe something perverted by tyrannical power. It’s a term used primarily to describe the present, but whose implications inevitably connect to both the future and the past. In his second term, President Donald Trump has revealed his ambitions to rewrite America’s official history to, in the words of the Organization of American Historians, “reflect a glorified narrative … while suppressing the voices of historically excluded groups.” Such ambitions are deeply Orwellian. Here

George Orwell’s ‘1984’ has some lessons for 2025. NurPhoto/Corbis via Getty Images https://theconversation.com/who-controls-the-present-controls-the-past-what-orwells-1984-explains-about-the-twisting-of-history-to-control-the-public-257798 https://theconversation.com/who-controls-the-present-controls-the-past-what-orwells-1984-explains-about-the-twisting-of-history-to-control-the-public-257798 Link copied Share article Share article Copy link Email Bluesky Facebook WhatsApp Messenger LinkedIn X (Twitter) Print article When people use the term “ Orwellian ,” it’s not a good sign. It usually cha

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