What utopian and dystopian elements are in The Hunger Games?

The society in The Hunger Games trilogy is depicted as predominantly a dystopian society with a totalitarian government, with only a couple minor examples of utopian society. The country called Panam, is divided into 12 districts, each responsible for producing specific resources, most of which go to the Capitol (government headquarters). For example, District 12 produces coal, because where they are located, the land is abundant in this rock.
How do we know this? Well, a dystopian society is defined by several characteristics:

• People are oppressed, poor, starving, terrorized by the government or police (or higher sources), and lack many freedoms (speech, independence, and access to information, etc.
• Nature is not trusted and avoided
• Government controls many aspects of society: technology, religion, education, manufacturing, etc.

A totalitarian government looks like this:

• Has complete control of society by enforcing rules with horrific consequences for breaking one
• Control’s society by limiting resources
• Manipulates society through the media, information, fear, and lies
• Corrupt and secretive
• Known to use technology and inside people to keep surveillance on the public

In The Hunger Games, there are many examples of a dystopian society run by a totalitarian government, especially in book 1. The Capitol controls all the districts through the above-bulleted examples, and The Hunger Games focuses mainly on District 12. Anyone who lives outside of the Capitol lives in what’s considered poverty by today’s standards. In a coal district, you can imagine that everything must be very dirty, grey, and dreary with all the soot that lingers from the miner’s work. Furthermore, the government controls how much money (tokens) and food is available for the districts, which is never enough, and many people starve. Some (Katniss & Gale) take to the woods to hunt animals for food and trade, despite government rules against interacting with nature. The most prominent and horrific method the Capitol uses to control the districts is to hold the annual Hunger Games. The Capitol states that it is a reminder of the wars that devastated their nation, but really, the Capitol views it as entertainment. They can control the games using illusion and technology to force players to make choices that will lead them to a specific outcome based on the Capitol’s liking. Player’s deaths are brutal and objectified. Each night the Capitol lists each death from that day, devaluing life for all human beings as simple and forgettable.
The way in which the Capitol uses the people in each District can be seen relative to today’s numerable shows labeled “reality TV.” How do they compare? Those chosen to play in the games (Tributes in the novel) are portrayed as “contestants” by being given stylists and fashion designers to make them look glamorous. They televise The Hunger Games and hold interviews with the contestants. They control the storyline and edit interviews to fit the personalities that the Capitol wants to portray, such as Katniss and Peeta’s love story. Then the games and interviews are “aired” for the citizens of the Capitol’s viewing enjoyment. Those who live in the Districts are able to watch too, as their own people – friends and family members: children – are pitted against one another in the arena, and their deaths are televised in front of the entire population of Panam. This fictional dystopian reality compares to today’s society in this way:
Television reality programs are shown to foster not only direct surveillance, but also the normalization of surveillance because they make it part of the entertainment format of television and, thus, good fun” (Ericson), and this keeps the majority of the public in the United States content to do nothing to combat it.  Similarly, the Games are served up as an entertaining reality show to the Capitol, yet again highlighting the connection between their citizens and ours.” (Northeastern.edu)
These are all examples of how The Hunger Games follows the conditions of a dystopian society, and although rare, there are a couple of instances where utopian characteristics are depicted, though very few of the population actually get to partake in this version of reality.
A utopian society is seen as one that is ideal and nearly perfect, at least according to the people. People often live happy, carefree lives, with rules to protect the common good of the people, without controlling them to the same degree as a dystopian society would control them. People are free to choose their own path in life and are given opportunities that allow individuals to grow. Society also has some say in how the government is run and can live relatively private lives if they so wish.

In The Hunger Games, a few examples include the citizens of the Capitol themselves, who live more freely and openly, have access to a great deal of technology, education, food, entertainment, work, and medical care. The winners of The Hunger Games becomes a Victor and are provided with a more than modest home in their districts “Victor Village,”  money, food, and other resources to keep the winner and their family without want for the rest of their lives.
Despite these minor utopian examples, the fictional society depicted in The Hunger Games is still considered a dystopian society with a totalitarian government, controlling the people for their own enjoyment.

How does The Hunger Games depict utopia and dystopia?

Suzanne Collins' novel The Hunger Games portrays a future society and government known as Panem.  Comprised of twelve outlying districts and a central Capitol, Panem is a dystopian society because of the harsh separation between the cruel Capitol and the impoverished, enslaved districts.  Throughout the novel, from the Games themselves to the physical reminder of the Avox servants, the Capitol uses violence and intimidation to control the people in the Districts.  The Capitol itself may seem utopian, with its abundance of consumer goods, but its excess of riches comes at the expense of the Districts that provide the goods and food being produced. 

The most revealing examples of the dystopian elements in The Hunger Games showcase the Capitol's willing predilection for violence:

The Avox Servants
The Avox servants are a prime example of the dystopian qualities of Panem.  Katniss first sees one of these servants at dinner and is startled that she recognizes her.  Haymitch and Effie quickly correct Katniss, that she could not possibly know an Avox.

"'Someone who committed a crime.  They cut her tongue so she can't speak,' says Haymitch. 'She's probably a traitor of some sort. Not likely you'd know her'" (77).

The Hunger Games

The Capitol's Hunger Games are the most horrifying feature of dystopian Panem.  Katniss knows that the Games are Panem's way of solidifying their control over the Districts:

"Whatever words they use, the real message is clear.  'Look how we take your children and sacrifice them and there's nothing you can do.  If you lift a finger, we will destroy every last one of you. Just as we did in District Thirteen'" (19).