The thesis, consisting of three chapters, focused on studying the political and philosophical thought of the French scholar Jean Baudrillard, and how he reorganized and redirected a set of concepts related to power in light of simulation and consumer society in the postmodern era, as well as examining the impact of digital media on reshaping the relationship between power and society.
Within its conceptual framework, the study addressed power, simulation, and digital media as fundamental approaches to understanding the interaction between power and society. It then analyzed power, shifting from its traditional disciplinary model to a symbolic exchange model. This was achieved by posing several questions related to the ability of simulation to alter traditional power mechanisms and transform the tools of its exercise from direct coercion to more complex symbolic mechanisms.
The study also focused on consumer society as a system of signs and symbols that express social status and contribute to the reproduction of individuals’ social identity. Furthermore, it explored the mechanisms of modern hegemony represented by digital media and the symbolic logic of consumption, in light of declining political will and the resulting transformation of the political sphere into a consumerist spectacle.
The study reached several conclusions, most notably that the manipulation of images and the ease with which they are circulated and transmitted, particularly in light of the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, constitute a phenomenon that Baudrillard recognized early on. This phenomenon is linked to the deconstruction and reproduction of reality, which regimes can exploit to enhance their capacity to control and repress. The study also concluded that democracy in the age of simulation has become a procedural representation that superficially integrates the masses while marginalizing their actual will. This raises the fundamental question of the relationship between power and society in light of contemporary digital and symbolic transformations.
The examining committee consisted of:
1. Prof. Dr. Abeer Siham Mahdi – Chair
2. Prof. Dr. Ahmed Ali Mohammed – Member
3. Lec. Aalya AbdulAmir AbdulMajeed – Member
4. Prof. Dr. Ahmed Adnan Aziz – Supervisor
At the conclusion of the discussion, and after listening to the committee’s comments and discussing the thesis with the student, the committee decided to accept the thesis and award the student a Master’s degree with a grade of “Very Good.”
