WHAT IS TOTALITARIANISM?

Essential Question  How did the end of World War I allow for the rise of totalitarian governments?

End of WWI…  11 November 1918 Armistice  Treaty of Versailles  Article 231: “War Guilt Clause”  14 th Point: League of Nations  Germany gives up territory (about 10%)  German reparations to France $33 Billion (10% of total war costs)

Treaty of Versailles  What problems might arise??

Totalitarianism  “a government that takes total, centralized, state control over every aspect of public and private life.”  Government  Economy  Citizens’ lives

Totalitarianism  Goal: Erase line between government and society  Ideology (set of beliefs) citizens expected to follow Often led by dynamic leader and single political party

Totalitarianism  Leaders provide sense of security, direction  Often dynamic leaders Build support Justify policies/actions Method of handling opposition Secret Police

Totalitarianism  How to spread message?  Mass communication and technology  Surveillance technology for tracking  Violence

Totalitarianism and Democracy  Totalitarianism challenges values of Western democracy:  Reason  Freedom  Human dignity  Worth of individual

Use of terror Indoctrination Propaganda Censorship Religious/Ethnic Persecution Methods of Enforcement

Police Terror  Objectives:  Force obedience  Crush opposition  Police role: enforce government policies  Spying on citizens  Intimidation  Brutal force (murder)

Indoctrination  Objective: instruction of government beliefs  Mold people’s mind  Control of education  Glorify leader and policies  Unconditional support required

Propaganda and Censorship  Objective: Control of mass media  Spread of propaganda Permission of state to see film, art, music, etc. Disagree? Incorrect information? Treason

Religious/Ethnic Persecution  Objective: create “enemies of state” (scapegoats)  Blame for when things go wrong Religious groups Ethnic groups  Easily identified  Subject to acts of terror and violence

Totalitarianism in the 20 th Century  Leaders:  Adolph Hitler (Germany): Nazism  Benito Mussolini (Italy): Fascism  Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union): Communism  Kim Il Sung (North Korea):  Saddam Hussein (Iraq):

Totalitarianism Today  Authoritarian regimes, few totalitarian governments  2000: one agency identified regimes: Afghanistan** Cuba North Korea Laos Vietnam

Analyzing Key Concepts: Totalitarianism  All totalitarian states share basic characteristics…

State Control of Individuals  Demands loyalty  Denies basic liberties  Expects personal sacrifice for the good of the state

Methods of Enforcement  Police terror  Indoctrination  Censorship– no free speech  Persecution

Modern Technology  Mass communication to spread propaganda  Advanced military weapons

State Control of Society  Business  Labor  Housing  Religion  The arts  Personal life  Education  Youth groups

Dictatorship and One-Party Rule  Exercises absolute authority  Dominates the government

Dynamic Leader  Unites people  Symbolizes government  Encourages popular support through force of will

Ideology  Sets goal of the state  Glorifies aims of the state  Justifies government actions

In your own words… What is Totalitarianism??

Summary:  How did the end of World War I allow for the rise of totalitarian governments?