adding sources

stateistheenemy/index.md

@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@ happens everywhere. The only difference is how it's presented. Media in the
 West often paints Russia, China, and North Korea as the villains - but many
 other countries use similar tactics behind the scenes.
 
+You can refer to **"State Secrecy and the Control of Information"** by D. P. Fidler. 
+This book looks at how all states engage in secrecy and how this is a feature of government worldwide, even in democratic nations, as they protect sensitive information related to defense, intelligence, and state security.
+
 Always remember: when you rely on the media, you only see what they choose to
 show you. Getting the full picture is a long and difficult journey - one that
 not everyone is able or willing to take.
@@ -147,6 +150,9 @@ it.
 So, while social media gives the appearance of freedom and connection, it's
 another tool in the state's arsenal to guide thought and reinforce obedience.
 
+An interesting reading you could have would be **"The Age of Surveillance Capitalism"** by Shoshana Zuboff
+Zuboff explores how companies, particularly social media platforms like Facebook and Google, exploit user data to manipulate behavior and control the flow of information. While this book primarily focuses on corporate surveillance, it also highlights how these platforms can be leveraged for political influence, particularly in authoritarian regimes.
+
 #### **A case Study: the last US Presidential election**
 
 ![](everywhere.png)
@@ -203,6 +209,8 @@ platforms can shape political discourse and potentially push societies toward
 more polarized and extreme positions - all under the guise of free speech and
 open debate.
 
+To illustrate this example, you could be interested in **“Disinformation and Democracy: The Influence of Social Media in Politics”** by P.W. Singer and Emerson T. Brooking
+This book covers how disinformation spreads through social media platforms and how powerful individuals or groups manipulate these platforms to influence political outcomes. It discusses the broader impact of algorithmic manipulation, which is central to understanding the shifts Musk implemented on X.
 
 ### Rights and Social Control
 
@@ -248,6 +256,9 @@ they create a need for "protection," which only they can provide. It's a
 carefully crafted narrative designed to make people feel powerless and
 dependent.
 
+If you want to go deeper in this topic, you could read **"The Social Contract"** by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
+Rousseau’s seminal work argues that governments, through the social contract, claim authority to grant and limit rights in exchange for protection. However, the very idea that a government can both grant and take away rights can be seen as an assertion of control, not an act of benevolence. This is central to the idea of why rights are not inherent to individuals, but often treated as "gifts" from the state.
+
 ## **Examples from the past**
 
 States have already shown that they cannot be trusted, as they have concealed malicious actions that were later exposed. I'd like to provide a few examples from around the world of state secrets that were revealed and how these situations were handled.
@@ -255,22 +266,32 @@ States have already shown that they cannot be trusted, as they have concealed ma
 One well-known example from the United States is the Pentagon Papers. In 1971, former military analyst Daniel Ellsberg leaked a classified government study that revealed the U.S. government's misleading actions and lies about the Vietnam War. The papers showed that the government had been secretly expanding its involvement in the war, even as it publicly claimed otherwise. This was a major blow to public trust, and it led to widespread protests and criticism of the U.S. government's actions during the war.
 The U.S. government initially tried to prevent the publication of the papers, claiming national security risks, but the case ultimately went to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the press's right to publish the documents. This event highlighted how governments can sometimes conceal the truth for political or military reasons, only for the secrets to be revealed later, often with significant consequences.
 
+*Source: "The Pentagon Papers: The Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Neil Sheehan, The New York Times*
+
 Another example is when in 2004, it was revealed that U.S. military personnel had tortured and abused detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, which had been used as a detention center for suspected insurgents and terrorists. The abuse included physical assault, sexual humiliation, forced nudity, and the use of dogs to intimidate prisoners.
 The scandal came to light after graphic photographs showing detainees being abused were leaked to the press. The images sparked global outrage and led to widespread criticism of U.S. policies on the treatment of detainees in the War on Terror.
 
+*Source: "The Abu Ghraib Prison Scandal: Sources of Sadism" by L. P. Siggins*
+
 A significant example from Russia involves the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006. Litvinenko, a former officer of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), defected to the United Kingdom and became an outspoken critic of the Russian government, particularly under President Vladimir Putin. He was a vocal critic of corruption within the Russian state and its use of violence against its opponents.
 In November 2006, Litvinenko fell seriously ill and died after drinking tea laced with a rare radioactive substance, polonium-210, at a London hotel. His death was highly suspicious, and after an investigation, it was concluded that Litvinenko had been deliberately poisoned by Russian agents, with possible links to the Russian government itself.
 A public inquiry in the UK in 2016 concluded that there was "strong evidence" that the Russian government, including individuals linked to the Kremlin, was responsible for the poisoning. The Russian government consistently denied any involvement and refused to cooperate with the investigation.
 The case highlighted not only the danger of state-sponsored assassination of political opponents but also the extent to which the Russian government sought to conceal its involvement in such acts. The poisoning of Litvinenko is still a point of tension in international relations and remains a potent example of how secretive state actions, including assassination, can be hidden or denied, only to be uncovered later.
 
+*Source: "The Litvinenko Enquiry: Final Report" by Sir Robert Owen*
+
 Another notable example involves Italy's involvement in the 1980 Bologna train station bombing, often referred to as "Italy’s strategy of tension".
 On August 2, 1980, a bomb exploded in the Bologna train station, killing 85 people and injuring over 200. The bombing, which was one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in Italy's post-war history, initially pointed to far-left extremist groups. However, as investigations continued, it became apparent that the situation was far more complex—and sinister—than originally thought.
 Over the years, evidence began to emerge suggesting that members of Italy’s state apparatus—including the military, intelligence services, and neo-fascist groups—might have been involved in orchestrating or at least enabling the bombing. This was part of a broader strategy, sometimes referred to as the "strategy of tension," where violent events were allegedly used by elements within the state to manipulate public opinion and justify repressive measures against left-wing movements, which were gaining significant momentum in Italy at the time.
 In the decades that followed, investigations uncovered links between far-right militants and members of the Italian secret services, as well as possible complicity by high-ranking government officials. However, many of those responsible for the bombing were either never caught, given light sentences, or cleared of charges. For years, the truth was hidden, and the families of victims faced not only grief but also frustration at the lack of accountability.
 
+*Source: "The Strategy of Tension: Terrorism, Italy and the Strategy of Tension" by John Foot*
+
 A recent example is the Myanmar military’s crackdown on the Rohingya Muslims in 2017. The military launched a brutal campaign in Rakhine State, killing thousands and forcing 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. The Myanmar government initially denied the atrocities, calling it a counterinsurgency operation. In 2018, two Reuters journalists investigating the violence were arrested, highlighting the government's efforts to suppress information.
 In 2019, a UN report accused the military of genocidal intent, and the International Court of Justice took Myanmar to court for genocide. Despite this, Myanmar's military continued to deny the atrocities, and the situation remains unresolved, with the Rohingya still facing persecution. This case shows how state-backed violence and secrets can be concealed and denied for years.
 
+*Source: "Myanmar’s Rohingya Crisis and the Responsibility of the International Community" by the United Nations*
+
 As you can see, all over the world, states are carrying out illegal and inhumane actions while attempting to conceal them from the public. Sometimes, information leaks, and a scandal arises, but how can we ever know how many things have never been exposed?
 
 ![](scandalfree.png)
@@ -310,6 +331,9 @@ Every aspect of your life is designed to make you accept how the state
 functions. By the time you're faced with the state's concentration of power,
 you're already conditioned to accept it as normal.
 
+An interesting and complete work performed on this topic is **"Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison"** by Michel Foucault
+Foucault’s seminal work examines how modern institutions (such as schools, prisons, and military structures) have historically shaped individuals to accept hierarchical authority and unquestioned obedience. His theory of disciplinary power argues that the structures in society—from childhood to adulthood—train people to internalize authority and power dynamics. This forms a foundation for understanding how individuals are conditioned to accept concentrated power without resistance.
+
 ![](power.png)
 
 ## Statism: a dysfunctional power dynamic
@@ -342,6 +366,9 @@ not just about money or assets; it extends to laws, regulations, and freedoms
 that impact every part of your existence. When a few people have this much
 control, it undermines the very concept of individual autonomy.
 
+**"The Road to Serfdom"** by Friedrich Hayek is an interesting book covering this subject. 
+Hayek argues that centralized planning and government control, where a small elite makes decisions for the larger population, inevitably leads to the erosion of personal freedoms and individual autonomy. His central thesis is that when the state is granted too much control over individuals' lives, it stifles personal choice and undermines the principles of a free society. The book discusses how the concentration of power, even in the form of good intentions, leads to a lack of accountability and fairness, particularly when it comes to economic decisions like taxation.
+
 ## **Corruption as an eventual norm instead of punctual anomaly**
 
 
@@ -396,6 +423,9 @@ society requires diverse, independent sources of power that can act as checks
 on each other. But in a system where a small group of people holds the reins,
 real counterpower becomes just a far-off ideal. ![](feelthepower.png)
 
+**"The Anatomy of Power"** by John Kenneth Galbraith covers corruption in small groups. 
+Galbraith, in this influential work, explores how the concentration of economic and political power leads to corruption. He argues that when a small group controls key resources, they can manipulate laws and regulations to benefit themselves and protect their power. The more concentrated the power, the easier it is for those in charge to exploit their position for personal gain.
+
 # **Democracy: a dictatorship in sheep's clothing**
 
 
@@ -476,6 +506,9 @@ trained to do.
 
 ![](aynrand.png)
 
+ **"The Triumph of the Political Class"** by Angelo M. Codevilla shares my thoughts about it. 
+Codevilla explores how the rise of a political class in the United States has undermined true democratic representation. He argues that the political class is increasingly disconnected from the average citizen, creating a divide between the elites who hold power and the general population. The political class, according to Codevilla, is more interested in maintaining its own power than genuinely representing the interests of the people.
+
 ## **An honest look at dictatorship**
 
 Now that we've discussed what a democracy is, let's take a look at how
@@ -515,3 +548,5 @@ democracy.
 
 ![](dictatorship.png)
 
+**"The Origins of Totalitarianism"** by Hannah Arendt describes this process.
+Arendt's seminal work discusses how totalitarian systems rise and how they can emerge even in societies that consider themselves democratic. She explores the dangers of concentration of power, mass surveillance, and the suppression of dissent, pointing out that many democracies have the same authoritarian tendencies that dictatorships do, especially when leaders use populist rhetoric and media manipulation to consolidate power.