TOTALITARIANISM

Totalitarianism Defined Government controls every aspect of life No privacy or independent organizations Political system dominates: Religion Family life Economy Education All powerful leader

Totalitarian Leaders Hitler Mussolini Stalin

Logic of Totalitarianism In order to create a perfect society out of imperfect human beings, the political system requires a high level of coercive control over every facet of life.

Totalitarianism’s Features http://www. youtube. com/watch There are seven (7): Cult of the leader Radical ideology Organization Mass mobilization and indoctrination Use of secret police Central control Use of terror and violence V for Vendetta (Part 10 at 3:20 into Part 11)

Cult of the Leader Supreme, autonomous Hero worship Wise Paternalistic Charismatic

Radical Ideology Control is official, total, comprehensive Exploits popular fears and prejudices Legitimates a revolutionary break from the past Provides scapegoat for past wrongs Explains present sacrifices Promises a future of peace and plenty

Organization Single, political party serves leader in promoting ideology Party is subservient to leader No dissent permitted!

Mass mobilization and indoctrination Fanatic followers make any sacrifice Regime mobilizes against any internal or external enemy Opponents, scapegoats, counter-revolutionaries Use aggressive warfare to keep people mobilized

Secret Police Secret police and informers are used to monitor and control citizenry

Central Control Control all organizations Schools the Arts Clubs News media Labor unions Churches Universities Economy

Terror and Violence To smooth the way to a take-over Creates atmosphere of crisis and instability Dramatizes inability of old government to provide security To maintain control afterward Keeps population too terrorized to dissent Leaders not only eliminate opponents, but also loyal deputies who could become rivals Bloody purges happen even when no danger is emanate Fear of communism, fear of capitalism Once reputation for terror is established, a regime does not have to continue actual terror. It can use rumors and lies to convince people that government is invincible and all-knowning

Benito Mussolini – Italy http://www. youtube. com/watch Benito Mussolini convinced war veterans that they needed to fight the politicians who were destroying Italy • Fascism – strong, centralized government headed by a powerful dictator; rooted in nationalism • Did not attempt to control farms & factories like Communism; many Italians feared Communism • March on Rome (1922) – Italian king allowed him to form new government • Il duce (the chief) – crushed all opposition and controlled every aspect of life

Josef Stalin – Soviet Union http://www. youtube. com/watch • Joseph Stalin stopped at nothing to create a model Communist state • Make it a truly socialist economy – stamping out all private enterprise especially private farming, ordered collectivization, and destruction of kulaks • Five-year plans (3) – transform into industrial power, by 1939 it was third largest • Police state – critics were arrested & shipped off to forced labor camp in Siberia • Tens of thousands public officials, bureaucrats, military officers were “enemies of the state” and executed • 8-13 million people die; millions more from famine caused by restructuring of Soviet society • Maintain complete control over citizens; no rights Did in 12 years what the rest of the world did in 150 years.

Adolf Hitler – Nazi Germany http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80lLU5-yji8 Adolf Hitler appealed to jobless soldiers who joined Nazi (Natl. Socialist German Workers’ Party) who had no ties to Communism and hated it • Nazism – based on nationalism; goal of uniting all German speaking people; Aryans superior to Jews, Slavs and non-whites; national expansion (beliefs laid out in Mein Kampf ) • Fuhrer (the leader) – desperate people turned to him during Great Depression • Dismantled Weimar Republic to establish Third Reich (1. Charlemagne; 2. Bismarck) which would be the “thousand-year Reich”