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I came across this example sentence for the grammar point ~にあって, which
indicates that something is under a particular circumstance.

> 彼女は戦争中、思想統制下にあってなお、自由な精神を持ち続けた。

I understand the first and the last bits, but I cannot figure out the middle
fragment `思想統制下にあってなお`

思{し}想{そう}統{とう}制{せい} means "thought censorship" according to my dictionary, but
other than that I'm not sure what that exactly means. All I can think of is
the Thought Police from Orwell's _1984._..and I don't think that's it. (I hope
so anyway.) I imagine that the `下` is read `か`, and I gather it means "under
thought censorship", but that doesn't really help me understand the meaning.
Is this something that is done particularly during wartime? Does this refer to
a specific practice or policy, and if so is it enforced, either by the
government or some other group, or an individual? Is this more like political
censorship?

If this is an internal circumstance (as in in one's mind), how can one have
this censorship and retain a `自由な精神`, or a "free mind"?

My last (and least pressing) question has to do with the use of `なお` with
`にあって`...am I right in thinking that it means something more like "even under
the circumstances (of thought censorship)..."

All in all, this example sentence raised more questions then it answered...
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2012-04-04T19:06:48.400
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2012-04-05T12:45:16.357
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question
grammar meaning jlpt
Help with this sentence fragment containing "思想統制"
I think this sentence means something like:

> "During the war, in a situation under thought censorship [the restriction of
> [freedom of thought](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_thought)], she
> still continued to possess a free mind."

I think `なお` can be translated as "still" here, and that
[`統制下`](http://eow.alc.co.jp/%E7%B5%B1%E5%88%B6%E4%B8%8B/UTF-8/) generally
refers to "under control/regulation (by a state etc)".

Looking at [this Hatena::Keyword
article](http://d.hatena.ne.jp/keyword/%BB%D7%C1%DB%C5%FD%C0%A9), it seems
`思想統制` means where policy-makers restrict the freedom of thought of citizens,
and the regulation/control of opportunities for expression via
publications/speech etc.
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2012-04-04T22:05:14.373
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2012-04-05T12:45:16.357
2012-04-05T12:45:16.357
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answer