Affluent Societies Research Articles

The Domestic Transition: Progress Towards Decent Living of Households in Low and Middle‐Income Countries

ABSTRACTOver the past decades, households have gradually increased their ownership of goods that make life easier and more comfortable, such as furniture, TVs, kitchen supplies, phones, (motor)bikes, and cars. We refer to this development, in which households move from having few durable assets to having many, as the domestic transition. In this study, we argue that this transition reflects the rise towards what could be called a decent standard of living. While this standard has been reached decades ago in affluent societies, the domestic transition has hardly started in the poorest countries. The current paper aims to assess the status of the domestic transition at the level of subnational regions within low‐ and middle‐income countries and to examine how variations in its pace relate to these regions' socioeconomic, demographic, and cultural characteristics. Our analyses reveal that the domestic transition in these regions follows an S‐shaped curve and that the speed of the transition is faster in wealthier, more educated, and urbanised regions with smaller dependent populations.

Can schools and libraries curb the functional illiteracy crisis? Insights from the Netherlands

ABSTRACT Increasing parts of the world population have rudimentary reading and writing skills but limited command of grammar, syntax and spelling. This functional illiteracy has detrimental effects on labor market participation, population health and political stability. Geographies of illiteracy also include affluent societies like the Netherlands, a country that is not only illustrative of a widespread phenomenon, but arguably also a bellwether of things to come elsewhere in the world if these developments are not reversed. This exploratory paper focuses on two institutional spaces where the literacy crisis is conventionally addressed: schools and public libraries. We argue that while each has a contribution to make, neither institution is currently able to curtail the trend, partially because preferred literacy promotion methods are incongruent with rapidly evolving changes in the literacy landscape, especially regarding youth communication. We consider three possible responses to our current literacy crisis and conclude that efforts to curb functional illiteracy require a pragmatic and multi-pronged approach, and perhaps even some counterintuitive strategies.

Protecting the environment at home or abroad?

Abstract By importing goods whose production affects the environment abroad, wealthy countries are ”offshoring” a large share of their total environmental footprint of consumption to less affluent societies. We argue that current efforts to mitigate this problem, which focus largely on informational policy instruments for global supply chains, could result in unintended side effects. The reason pertains to a potential tradeoff between a home bias in consumption and the geographic allocation of environmental impacts. We develop a theoretical argument on how consumers may respond when they prefer a domestically produced good but are made aware that this results in more environmental damage at home, compared to importing the same product from abroad. Based on choice experiments in Germany, Japan, and the United States, we observe that information provision can reduce consumer demand for environmentally harmful products, but also find some support for environmental NIMBYism when environmental and provenance information are combined. The key implication of this finding is that policymakers should address potentially unintended side-effects of more stringent informational requirements for global supply chains.

Marcusean resources to think coloniality

The article aims to take a stand in the debates surrounding the potential contribution of the theoreticians of the first generation of the Frankfurt School to postcolonial/decolonial theory, by showing that Herbert Marcuse, in his work, has outlined coloniality as later authors have defined it. Marcuse denounced the neocolonialism and neoimperialism of which the Global South populations were prey at the time of decolonizations. He showed that the welfare state and the affluent society in contemporary Western societies largely fed themselves on the continued economic exploitation of the Global South. Marcuse decried the uneven development bred by the capitalist system and criticized the ideology and mechanisms of development imposed on the newly independent countries, which also violated the subjectivity of their peoples, ignoring their values and aspirations. He condemned the racial-based violence and war imposed on the ‘underprivileged’ in the Global South and the Global North alike. These trains of thought describe different aspects of coloniality. This article will analyze these insights through a close reading of Marcuse’s work and comparisons with the writings of Frantz Fanon, Kwame Nkrumah and Samir Amin.

Habits of affluence: unfeeling, enactivism and the ecological crisis of capitalism

AbstractIn this text, I discuss the role that a range of habits in affluent societies play in upholding as well as masking an unsustainable status quo. I show that enactivism, as a philosophical approach to the embodied and embedded mind, offers resources for bringing into focus and critically interrogating such habits of affluence and the environments enabling them. I do this in the context of a critical theory of the unfelt in society: the systematic production of lacunae of emotive concern in social collectives. The lack of proportionate affective and practical responses to the ecological crisis epitomizes this. The article starts with considerations on societal unfeeling, then reviews key elements of enactive approaches to habit, before a fuller picture of habits of affluence is developed, informed by Brand’s and Wissen’s concept of the imperial mode of living. Finally, two dimensions of habits of affluence are discussed in some detail, which will help flesh out a thematically expanded, politically engaged version of enactivism.

Internal Hernia Post-Single Anastomosis Gastric Bypass: Case Series with Review of Literature.

Obesity is an emerging worldwide health care issue. It has a direct and indirect bearing on health-related outcomes. Rates of overweight and obesity have grown manifold in the past few decades globally. Once considered a problem of the affluent societies only, obesity is now dramatically on the rise in low- and middle-income countries also. Single anastomosis gastric bypass (SAGB) is one of the combined bariatric procedures adopted for weight loss in patients failing maximal medical therapy. Internal hernia (IH) after SAGB is a less recognized clinical entity. We hereby report our experience with four such cases under light of current available literature. Bariatric procedures are associated with some short- and long-term limitations. IHs are among one of the dreaded complications associated with some bariatric procedures with rates reaching up to 16% after classic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The incidence of IH post-SAGB is comparatively rare and is very less frequently reported. Symptoms of IH post-SAGB are quite nonspecific and depend on the time and extent of herniation. The symptoms can vary from benign intermittent colicky pain to severe intra-abdominal pain presenting as a surgical emergency. Routine physical examination and biochemical investigations are nonspecific and unreliable in evaluating those patients. Computed tomography (CT) with intravenous and oral contrast is the most common imaging modality used for preoperative evaluation of those symptoms. The CT findings can be unremarkable in patients having intermittent symptoms/herniation. Diagnostic laparoscopy is the cornerstone for diagnosis and management of patients having high suspicion of IH.

The transformative potential of AI-enabled personalization across cultures

PurposeThe widespread integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled personalization has sparked a need for a deeper understanding of its transformative potential. To address this, this study aims to investigate the mental models held by consumers from diverse cultures regarding the impact and role of AI-enabled personalization in their lives (i.e. individual well-being) and in society (i.e. societal well-being).Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses the theories-in-use approach, collecting qualitative data via the critical incident technique. This data encompasses 487 narratives from 176 consumers in two culturally distinct countries, Belgium and Pakistan. Additionally, it includes insights from a focus group of six experts in the field.FindingsThis research reveals that consumers view AI-enabled personalization as a dual-edged sword: it may both extend and restrict the self and also contribute to an affluent society as well as an ailing society. The particular aspects of the extended/restricted self and the affluent/ailing society that emerge differ across respondents from different cultural contexts.Originality/valueThis cross-cultural research contributes to the personalization and well-being literature by providing detailed insight into the transformative potential of AI-enabled personalization while also having important managerial and policy implications.

The Impact of Food Safety Criteria on Fruit and Vegetable Exports from Türkiye to The European Union

Food safety has become an increasingly important issue as people become more concerned about access to healthy food. Particularly in affluent societies such as the European Union, the increasing consumption of unhealthy fruits and vegetables and carcinogenic residues are constantly on the agenda. Reducing aflatoxin levels in dried foods to below health risk levels, eliminating them from food and ensuring access to healthy food are essential for food safety and human health. In this study, the impact of food safety practices in fruit and vegetable trade between the European Union and Türkiye was examined using mandarins, one of Türkiye’s main fresh fruit and vegetable exports, and the European Union Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications for food and feed for the period between 2019 and 2022. The reasons for these notifications and the requests made in this context were examined and a TOWS analysis matrix was created based on the findings obtained. In conclusion, residue and aflatoxin inspections should be included in traceability activities in Türkiye. Producers need to be informed to ensure the effectiveness of inspections. It is crucial to provide adequate support to producers to improve storage conditions for perishable and dry products and to encourage the use of the latest production techniques. It is of great importance to raise awareness of these techniques among producers. Thus, the European Union can be an alternative market to the Russian Federation, which is Türkiye’s largest trading partner.

Measuring food insecurity: Food Affordability Index as a measure of territorial inequalities

The devastating economic and social impact of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine has exacerbated poverty and food insecurity, making it harder for people to access food. Based on a multidimensional understanding of food insecurity, this study focuses on one of the most challenging dimensions for affluent societies, namely, the economic access to food. Therefore, the research aims to develop an innovative Food Affordability Index (FIA) that captures the inter-territorial inequalities and critical problems created by the economic disruptions in the local food system that prevent people from eating healthy. The index is based on a survey of the prices of products suitable for healthy eating in thirty shops in Rome, Italy. A distinction was made both by the type of distribution channel (e.g. discount and supermarket) and by the area in which the survey was conducted, i.e., the 15 municipalities of Rome. This study sheds light on the problem of food insecurity and highlights areas where households are far from an ideal healthy diet. Understanding the spatial distribution of economic inequalities in access to healthy food seems crucial for the implementation of targeted policies and programmes to address this problem, which is increasingly structural in affluent societies.

Europeans Seek Exciting Experiences More Than Status: Exploring the Development of Two Fundamental Life Orientations

This article relates the lively debate about inequality-induced status concerns in affluent societies to the broader theoretical perspective on changing existential dispositions in modern society, which we reconstruct from the sociological theories of David Riesman, Gerhard Schulze and Ronald Inglehart. We conceptualise experience seeking – aspiring to an enjoyable life – alongside status seeking – aspiring to a successful life – as a presumably increasing life orientation. Using extensive data from the European Social Survey, for 27 countries and over 350,000 respondents over the period 2002–2018, we examine the extent and relationship of these orientations over time, their associations with socio-economic development and income inequality, as well as their social stratification according to individual-level characteristics. The results show that the populations of wealthy and economically more equal societies increasingly prefer an exciting life to a successful one. Within societies, men, younger people and the highly educated value both experiences and status.

Swamped in dinosaurs with LED lights: negotiating sustainability in a high-consumption society

Unsustainable patterns of consumption in affluent societies are at the heart of global climate and environmental challenges and seemingly highly resistant to change. While decades of research have revealed how consumption is deeply embedded in society, recently calls have been made for (re-)engaging with the systemic conditioning of consumption in studies of everyday practices. In this paper, we analyse the ways in which eco-conscious households in Norway (N=20) perform and negotiate sustainability in everyday life. With theories of practice as a point of departure, we combine Bente Halkier’s work on social interaction with Sherry B. Ortner’s conceptualisation of agency as power (dominance and resistance) and agency through ‘projects’ to study how sustainability is negotiated in the everyday. Through this framework we explore how consumers perform ‘sustainability projects’ and how these are defined through, constrained by and negotiated against everyday normativity and dominant socio-material arrangements. Our findings demonstrate the compromises, trade-offs and negotiations that participants engage in when balancing their sustainability projects against other social roles, expectations and goals, often carried out within socio-material arrangements that are scripted towards less sustainable options. Hence, they provide detailed insight into the boundedness of consumer agency, being both socially and materially negotiated and contextualised. While often undertaken as mundane actions, the challenges our participants experienced is ultimately part of negotiating consumer society, often experienced as a constant pressure towards more consumption as expansive consumption is embedded in, and embodied and habituated through, a wide range of social practices.

GULP1 deficiency reduces adipogenesis and glucose uptake via downregulation of PPAR signaling and disturbing of insulin/ERK signaling in 3T3-L1 cells.

Obesity and metabolic disorders caused by alterations in lipid metabolism are major health issues in developed, affluent societies. Adipose tissue is the only organ that stores lipids and prevents lipotoxicity in other organs. Mature adipocytes can affect themselves and distant metabolism-related tissues by producing various adipokines, including adiponectin and leptin. The engulfment adaptor phosphotyrosine-binding domain-containing 1 (GULP1) regulates intracellular trafficking of glycosphingolipids and cholesterol, suggesting its close association with lipid metabolism. However, the role of GULP1 in adipocytes remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the function of GULP1 in adipogenesis, glucose uptake, and the insulin signaling pathway in adipocytes. A 3T3-L1 cell line with Gulp1 knockdown (shGulp1) and a 3T3-L1 control group (U6) were established. Changes in shGulp1 cells due to GULP1 deficiency were examined and compared to those in U6 cells using microarray analysis. Glucose uptake was monitored via insulin stimulation in shGulp1 and U6 cells using a 2-NBDG glucose uptake assay, and the insulin signaling pathway was investigated by western blot analysis. Adipogenesis was significantly delayed, lipid metabolism was altered, and several adipogenesis-related genes were downregulated in shGulp1 cells compared to those in U6 cells. Microarray analysis revealed significant inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling in shGulp1 cells compared with U6 cells. The production and secretion of adiponectin as well as the expression of adiponectin receptor were decreased in shGulp1 cells. In particular, compared with U6 cells, glucose uptake via insulin stimulation was significantly decreased in shGulp1 cells through the disturbance of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. This is the first study to identify the role of GULP1 in adipogenesis and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by adipocytes, thereby providing new insights into the differentiation and functions of adipocytes and the metabolism of lipids and glucose, which can help better understand metabolic diseases.

A comprehensive review of Yoga's impact on Immunomodulatory Functions and Microbiome in Obesity

The issue of food security is often viewed through the lens of scarcity, but an equally critical concern is the global rise of obesity resulting from excessive energy intake and insufficient expenditure. Affluent societies, driven by food trends favoring energy-dense, nutrient-poor diets coupled with sedentary lifestyles, grapple with the burgeoning problem of overweight and obesity. India, too, faces a surge in obesity, contributing to lifestyle-related and metabolic disorders. Multiple factors, including diet, genetics, environment, and notably, a lack of physical activity, contribute to this health crisis. Obesity, marked by low-grade inflammation, significantly impacts immune function. Research indicates alterations in the intestinal immune system, fostering a pro-inflammatory environment linked to metabolic disorders associated with obesity. True health encompasses physical, mental, and social well-being, transcending the mere absence of disease. Lifestyle elements like environment, sleep, diet, and exercise play pivotal roles in maintaining good health. Yoga, emerging as a prominent Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapy, holds promise for enhancing physiological and psychological health. In addressing obesity and modulating immune functions, non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical interventions, like yoga, offer viable solutions. Studies attest to yoga's positive impact on inflammatory markers in the obese, yet a comprehensive understanding of its effects on immunomodulation and the gut microbiome in obesity within the context of Indian and Yogic systems warrants deeper exploration. Incorporating such holistic approaches into daily routines could provide effective strategies for combating obesity and promoting overall well-being.

The Resilience of Borders: Law and Migration in Contemporary Performances

Legal philosopher Hans Lindahl argues that the regulation of immigration is, above all moral considerations, a political issue. When one tries to assess the problem of territorial boundaries – and their transgression – as a question of distributive justice, political philosophers easily mix, not even surreptitiously, moral arguments with political and legal considerations. Lindahl refers to Michael Walzer, who asserts the primacy of the community and consequently bounded justice, and to Jürgen Habermas, who’s idea of boundless justice makes the notion of a nation-state irrelevant: one world polity has, by definition, no boundaries and thus no immigration issues. But Lindahl replies that law, and immigration law in particular, is forced to create boundaries by its very nature. After all, law structurally defines diverse groups of interest, and the actions of individuals – belonging or not belonging to one group or another – are always placed or misplaced, i.e. situated inside or outside the realm of the law. Even a world legislature and a universal jurisdiction would have to decide who can claim her/his rights, or who cannot. But since law is also, by definition, contingent – it can be changed in any direction – the claim of distributive justice, as a form of moral pressure, cannot be discarded easily. It shouldn’t be discarded, to be sure, it should be politicized. In recent performances about immigration, the moral indignation has clearly had the upper hand, sometimes with a touch of cynicism. In Necropolis, Arkadi Zaides creates a fictitious city of the dead, where only those who died in their attempt to reach Europe are allowed. From a massive collection of data about the victims of Fortress Europe, his performance transforms into a horrifying portrait of their ‘human remains’. Het Salomonsoordeel, a documentary, participatory monologue by Ilay den Boer involves the audience in the moral dilemmas of the ‘decider’ of the Dutch immigration and asylum agency, where den Boer worked as an intern. In The Voice of Fingers, Thomas Bellinck confronts his friendship with asylum seeker Said Reza Adib with the harsh reality of migrants as ‘data subjects’, identified by their fingerprints. The question arises of whether artistic representations of immigration issues sufficiently tackle the political challenges of global mobility – in this collapsing world of (civil) wars, climate disasters, and economical inequalities – and the challenges it poses for the affluent societies we are living in. Is it possible, or even meaningful, for theater-makers to try to relate their compassion – as a moral sentiment – to the frameworks of contingent policies and, subsequently, to the strict taxonomies of legislation?

Knowledge of Complications of Diabetes Mellitus Among Patients Visiting the Diabetes Clinics: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Qassim Region.

Background and objectives Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic complex metabolic disease characterized mainly by hyperglycemia. It appears to be a global epidemic and an increasingly major non-communicable disease, posing a threat to both affluent and nonaffluent societies. Diabetes dramatically increases the risk of developing stroke, chronic kidney disease, and coronary artery disease. These complications include chronic kidney disease, retinopathy, coronary artery disease, stroke, and diabetic foot ulcers. Compared to people without diabetes, adults with diabetes have a two to four times greater risk of dying from heart disease and stroke. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding complications among patients with diabetes visiting the Diabetes Clinics at King Fahad Specialist Hospital (KFSH) in the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted in which patients with DM who visited the Diabetic Clinics at KFSH from February 2023 to July 2023 were recruited using a nonprobability sampling technique. A validated questionnaire from previous research was used to collect data on the sociodemographic features of the participants and their knowledge regarding diabetic complications. Data were described using mean with standard deviation for continuous variables and proportion for categorical variables. Results A total of 368 patients were recruited. The majority of the respondents (144, 39.1%) had been living with diabetes for over 10 years, followed by 23.1% (85) of those with less than one year. Exactly 239 (64.9%) reported having a family history of diabetes. About 75% (276) of participants knew about diabetic complications, and 247 (67.1%) reported that their doctor had addressed them about diabetes complications. Among the sources of diabetes complication information, diabetologists were reported by 131 (35.6%) of the respondents, followed by 81 (22.0%) through social media, 65 (17.7%) from relatives, and 39 (10.6%) from family medicine doctors. On the other hand, the findings reveal that the different age groups have different levels of knowledge of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia as diabetic complications (P = 0.031). However, there were no significant differences in the level of knowledge regarding complications between male and female patients (P > 0.05). Conclusions The study found that while the studied population had a relatively good knowledge of diabetic complications, some still lacked knowledge. The study also supports the need for individuals with a family history of diabetes to be aware of their risk and take steps for prevention, as a large proportion of participants reported having a family history of diabetes. Healthcare providers and diabetologists were the most frequent sources of information on diabetic complications. However, some also turned to social media. Focused education and awareness actions are crucial to ensure that people with diabetes have access to reliable information from various sources.

From data to value in smart waste management: Optimizing solid waste collection with a digital twin-based decision support system

The importance of waste management, including collection, separation, recovery, and recycling, increases with the growing amount of waste. Technological innovations such as smart connected products, the Internet of Things, and digital twins are driving the development of smart management systems. Investments in necessary product-service systems are justified by cost savings and improved service quality, especially in affluent societies like Switzerland. However, there is a trade-off between cost savings and service quality that raises the question of optimal balance. Using a Swiss municipality as an example, this paper models the trade-off between cost savings and service quality using waste bin sensor modules. Simulation results demonstrate the impact of cost savings on service quality reduction and that substantial cost savings are possible without a service quality compromise. We also introduce a digital process twin as a decision support system that is able to leverage a growing database. These results contribute to research, firstly through the field study with 98 waste bins equipped with fill level sensor modules, secondly through the model-based analysis of the trade-off between cost savings and service quality, and thirdly by conceptualizing a digital twin-based decision support system. The results further contribute to practice, firstly by providing benchmarks for implementing similar systems in other municipalities without having to create their own simulations, secondly by presenting an innovative key performance indicator to measure service quality, and thirdly with a model that can be used for simulations to determine the individual optimum between costs and service quality.

An Observational Study of Sthaulya Inconcern with Obesity

Obesity, as considered, is the most common nutritional based disorder in all affluent societies. WHO 2010 report, considering the same, worldwide obesity seem too had doubled since 1980. 65% of the world's population lives in countries where overweight & obesity both does kill more people although being underweight. So obesity is gaining absolutely more attention at the global zone. That seems to be the reason for which many countries are absolutely making an effort to find perfect remedy for this ascending problem. The incidence of Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. Etc. is with the raising source among obese individuals. Commonly, it seems that the obesity is due to excessive eating and lack of adequate exercise. Hence this topic is selected for research. Objectives: This study is conducted with the objectives to evaluate that, how the lifestyle modification does affect overweight and obesity both. Material and Methods: An attempt has been made in the present study that the 30 patients of Sthaulya have been selected between the age group 18 years to 50 years. Observations were well noted. Data collected from the patients was tabulated under following two sections, General observations like age, sex, marital status, diet and lifestyle etc. Results: Statistical analysis was thorough resulting the illustrations alike; if people do habituate with the following type of lifestyle, but obviously, they may obese themselves, in case of Mind related causative factors. There are majority of the patients alike 80% were habituated with Happiness and only 20% were carrying lack of stress. Hence, we had mentioned that if in case the people are habituated with the same i.e., happiness, but obviously they will turn up obese. Conclusion: Sthaulya is the main over nutritive disorder which further causes other complications if not cured properly.

The Strength of Diversity: Macrolithic Artefacts and Productive Forces During the Chalcolithic of Southern Iberia

Any approach to the economic organization of a society depends on our knowledge of the productive forces and relations of production involved. In archaeology, this line of research requires an analysis of the technical quality and quantity of the means of production, as well as their spatial distribution and contextualisation. Macrolithic artefacts constituted the means of production in many of the productive processes of past communities, from the Neolithic period to the end of prehistory. This article seeks to utilize macrolithic data to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the economic organisation of the Chalcolithic communities in the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula between c. 3100 and 2200 cal BC. These communities produced one of the most outstanding, but at the same time puzzling archaeological records known in later prehistory. The main aim of this exploratory approach, the first of its kind, is to determine if the different forms of occupation of the Chalcolithic, namely monumental, ditched enclosures, fortified and unfortified hill-top settlements, and simple, open settlements were distinguished by specific modes of production. This issue is crucial to the on-going debate about the meaning and relevance of the notion of social complexity in the context of Chalcolithic societies and their political organisation. Our study describes the productive forces of the Chalcolithic settlements as highly variable, both in the type of productive tasks performed and in their intensity, and such variability is not explained by aspects like geographic location, form of occupation, or monumentality. The observed wealth and productive diversity, without signs of marked social hierarchies, emerge as a characteristic feature of what can be defined as cooperative affluent societies.

GIFTWINGS: A Donation Hub for Community Support

Food, clothing, and books are among the most essential and critical provisions for human well- being. Unfortunately, the issue of food insecurity, characterized by the absence of safe, nutritious, and sufficient food, persists as a significant problem in our society, especially in low-income communities. The three essentials such as food, cloth and book represent the most basic requirements of humanity, and it is imperative that they are met as swiftly as possible. Regrettably, in today's society, a significant number of individuals struggle to afford or access these fundamental necessities for survival. This Android application offers a solution to these challenges, enabling users to contribute food, clothing, and books free of charge, while allowing those in need to collect these donations when required. A noteworthy feature of this application is its ability to connect donors with recipients who seek the same type of donation. Unlike other donation platforms that often focus on one specific need, such as food, cloth and book. Key Words: donation platform, secondhand market, wastage reduction, donation catalog, affluent society, NGO’s.

‘Shadowy objects in test tubes’: A biopolitical critique of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go

This article aims to explore Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go within the Foucauldian theoretical framework in order to analyse the manifold biopolitical issues, namely cloning, by stretching the discourse to a speculative, dystopian posthuman scenario wherein the dominant, privileged, affluent human society replenishes them by incorporating bio-matter from the clones. The article also proposes to unfold the myriad ways the institutions, namely Hailsham and recovery centres in the novel, exercise power and execute power relations with the clones. It describes the way these institutions turn out to be what Foucault calls the regimes of truth and how the clones choose to remain docile to the institutional power, and consequently, they turn out to be rich sites for both medical gaze and disciplinary gaze. Nevertheless, the article also details the procedures by which the bizarre truth of organ donation of the clones is buried under the technical discourse of good work.