What is Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism is a form of government. It refers to an enforced or imposed political diktat exercised by an official, on the basis of an ideology. The concept thrives on the dictates of disseminated propaganda, state-controlled media, and personality cults. In this political system, the ruling power exercises complete control over the nation's economy, and law and order. Restrictions on the freedom of speech and assembly, and the extensive use of mass surveillance aides the political power, mostly self-proclaimed, to unleash state-terrorism.

History of Totalitarianism

The earliest record of the ideals of totalitarianism date back to 1923, in proclamations made by Giovanni Amendola. The use of the word instead of the commonly coined 'dictatorship' was used in reference to Italian Fascism. At a later stage, Giovanni Gentile, a prominent Italian philosopher and theorist, used the term to refer to the state's revised structure and goals. He described totalitarianism as a form of society and not government; largely responsible for influencing its citizens with a self-centered ideology. While in power, and very interestingly, Benito Mussolini described the system as 'spiritual and humane'.

Totalitarianism Government

A totalitarianism government relates to a political organization within which a single governing entity monopolizes absolute political power over all the citizens of a nation. The governing entity could be an individual person, a special assembly or committee, or a political party. In this structure of government, absolute political control of the state is exercised by deploying techniques that center around remolding the private life and morals of the citizenry. The officially proclaimed ideology becomes the alpha, beta, and omega of all conduct and political ambition. This form of regime completely destroys civil society.

The best examples of countries ruled by totalitarian authority are Italy, Russia under Stalin and Germany under fascist regime in the 20th century. Italian fascists and the Nazis not only completely destroyed the social structures in the respective countries, but also ensured that the breakdown of organized life was progressive and rapid. They brazenly censored the media, silenced dissenters, and condemned foreigners. Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler each developed a private sphere with an immutable future. These dictators or totalitarian regimes were tyrannies in imposed ideology.

Fascism and Nazism redefined world history in the 20th century, triggering the Second World War. These regimes assimilated power against the progress and goals of the state via repression. They elaborated the guiding ideology to conceal a system of terror that thrived on irreversible command and physical force. Stacking of arms and indiscriminate territorial expansion were common to both regimes. The ultimate goal of these totalitarian governments was to consolidate power under the pretense of a common political and social identity. Communism, fascism, and Nazism had some common traits such as:

• Policies designed to initiate moral and biological decay of the state.
• Attacking the interests of independent interest groups and competitors.
• Widespread dissemination of power, by consistently enforcing new demands.

A totalitarian form of government strives to establish complete social, political an cultural control over the citizens, under the ideology that individual interests are always subservient to the interests of the state. Mass mobilizations, specially designed banners and symbols, and a show of oratory skill are some other commonalities that totalitarian governments share. This form of centralized government is not only all powerful, but also totally illegitimate, as was the rise of the dictators post World War I.