We explain what totalitarianism is and what its characteristics are. Also, its differences with authoritarianism and some examples.
What is totalitarianism?
Totalitarianism is a form of State in which a single political party governs with absolute power without any kind of limitations. The concept of totalitarianism defines states, ideologies, groups or movements where freedom is deprived, and through which the State concentrates all powers in a total manner without respecting divisions or individual rights.
Totalitarianism is a regime (it is not a political ideology per se) in which all powers rest with a single political party. Through different means and strategies, the regime closes or suspends the rest of the political parties.
The figure of a leader or party president is key In this type of regimes and their opposition represents imprisonment, repression or death.
During the tenure of these governments There is abuse of power, the absence of human rightsthe dominance of the media and the intervention of the educational system, in order to form and mold society with the various control mechanisms so that it obeys the leader’s orders.
See also: Fascism
-
Characteristics of totalitarianism
Totalitarianism is characterized by:
- The governance of a single political party.
- The image of a strong leader glorified by political propaganda.
- The lack of division or separation of powers of the State, which is why it is called a “totalitarian State.”
- The lack of individual rights, free opinion or intervention in politics for any citizen.
- The lack of free choice of religion and education (practices subject to the regime in power).
- The abuse of political propaganda and the mass media, for strategic purposes to exercise control and social repression.
- Censorship of public opinion and any type of information in the media that does not come from the State.
- The control and management of the economy by the State, which takes over private properties and corporations of the Nation.
- The adoption of political ideals, whether left or right, to exercise the totalitarian regime (it is not an ideology in itself, it is a way of governing under certain ideals).
-
Examples of totalitarian states
Some examples of totalitarian states throughout history are:
- Nazism. It took place from 1933 in Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, who was already head of the Nazi party since 1921. The swastika and terror were the great symbols of the regime that sought to create a “racially pure” State and caused the largest systematic extermination in history towards different social groups: the Holocaust of the Jewish people (which left around 6,000,000 dead) and other victims such as Russians, Poles, Ukrainians, Serbians, Gypsies, French, Belgians, LGBT people (lesbians, gays, bisexual or transgender), the mentally or physically disabled, prisoners of war, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims and any other minority (around 11,000,000 dead). Nazism culminated in 1945 with the end of the Second World War.
- Mussolini’s fascism. It took place from 1922 in Italy (during the interwar period). It was an anti-parliamentary, anti-democratic, nationalist military regime with imperialist tendencies. Benito Mussolini became the dictator leader, who used violence, closed the parliament in 1925, made a pact with the Catholic Church who could take care of education in exchange for accepting Mussolini’s dictatorship and maintained a corporatist economic system (in the hands of the State). His mandate fell in 1943 leaving 460,000 dead, almost a million wounded and 530,000 prisoners.
- Stalinism. It took place from 1929 in the Soviet Union and was headed by the tyrant Lósif (Joshef) Stalin, who began his exercise by liquidating the “prosperous peasants” so that the state controlled agriculture. Millions of people died of famine and Stalin accused the Ukrainians of the failure of his own policy, so he sealed the borders with Ukraine and unleashed mass killings. After bloody repression and enormous sacrifices imposed on the population, Stalin turned Russia into an economic and military power. The USSR was part of the Allies (along with the US, England and France) in World War II. Stalin ruled over him until his death in 1953.
-
Difference between authoritarianism and totalitarianism
Although authoritarianism and totalitarianism seem like similar concepts, there are differences. Authoritarianism is a government regime in which a single person or dictator, establishes the measures to be taken and decides over the majority (rather than being based on an ideology through a political party).
For example, the Roman dictatorship (in Ancient Rome until 500 BC), the authoritarian government of Robert Mugabe (1980-2017) in Zimbabwe, the authoritarian government of Fidel Castro (1929-2008) in Cuba, who led the revolution socialist, the dictatorship of Francisco Franco (1939-1959) in Spain and the government of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990) in Chile.
Continued on: Authoritarianism