Re-Thinking Dystopias

In an era defined by rising authoritarianism, environmental collapse, and pervasive digital surveillance, the boundary between speculative fiction and lived reality has become dangerously porous. Re-Thinking Dystopias: Power, Surveillance and Governance bring together a diverse array of scholars and creative practitioners to map the "parallel presents" of the 21st century. From the "gendered morality" of India's legal landscapes to the "toxic ecologies" of the Anthropocene, this volume interrogates how systems of power—be they bureaucratic, technological, or patriarchal—seek to colonize the female body and the natural world. Through incisive readings of landmark texts like The Handmaid's Tale and Leila, alongside analyses of "Blue Documentaries" and digital dating cultures, the contributors reveal that dystopia is not a distant future, but a lens through which we must confront the injustices of our current moment. More than a collection of cautionary tales, this volume is a call to "vigilant mourning" and radical resilience. It challenges us to look into the mirror, recognize the fragile familiar, and insist on the possibility of transformative, equitable futures. About the Editors Tanya Mander author of Foucault, Power and Political Theatre: A Study of Selected Plays of John Arden, Harold Pinter and Edward Bond, is working as Associate Professor, with Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab. Her research reflects the aim to unravel, and explore the intersections of literature with various critical literary theories; and draw multiple parallel connections between art and life (society). Palak Singla is a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) in the Department of English at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab. A law graduate with a postgraduate degree in English, her interdisciplinary academic training informs her research approach. She currently serves as an Associate Editor of the RSSR Journal.