1. The Rise of Totalitarianism
A review of 20th c. ideologies: totalitarianism, Fascism, Nazism, communism

2. TOTALITARIANISM

3. DEFINITION
one-party dictatorship that regulates every aspect of citizens’ lives; everything is subordinated totally to the state
Similar (but not the same!) terms: dictatorship, authoritarianism, autocracy, absolutism
Totalitarianism is a 20th c. ideology. Does not apply to regimes prior to the 20th c. It is also used sparingly.
Totalitarian regimes are more repressive of pluralism (multiple political parties) and political rights than authoritarian regimes
“Totalitarianism” applied so sparingly that Mussolini’s Italy isn’t included - ways in which Mussolini’s Italy didn’t have total control:
Catholic Church still played an important role
Other parties still existed (state more pluralistic than USSR or Germany)
King still existed as a figurehead (Victor Emmanuel III)
“Everything” subordinated to state, examples:
Economy - varying policies, but state exercised some control
Arts - socialist realism as official art form in USSR; Hitler condemned modern art (Jewish influence) and jazz (African) + glorified German myths (Wagner) + burned books (ex. All Quiet on the Western Front - insult to German military)
Religion - communism = atheism + Stalin tore down churches; Hitler aimed to replace religion with his racial ideology, he didn’t eliminate religion but did combine all Protestant denominations into one state church and persecuted Catholics

4. CHARACTERISTICS Single-party state
Demands unquestioning obedience to single leader
State control of economy (not necessarily communism)
Secret police / terror
Censorship & government monopoly of media
Propaganda - through schools & media
Strong military
Leader tries to convince people he is democratic or has democratic support
Youth, professional, cultural, sports groups
Economic policies:
USSR - communism
Italy - corporatism
nationalization of industry + planned rational economy = leave some autonomy, but don’t allow conflicts such as strikes
corporatism = economy with system of guilds and industries (public and private); people are trained in one industry and stay there; pre-individualist (more community-oriented)
Germany - no specific economic philosophy, no clearly defined economic program (economics of secondary importance to Hitler). The economy did improve under Hitler - policies:
public works programs - ex. Building highways and housing, replanting forests
rearmament → helped the economy too
preserved capitalism/big business and labor under government control

5. “TOTALITARIANISM OF THE LEFT” “TOTALITARIANISM OF THE RIGHT”
“LEFT” VS. “RIGHT”
“TOTALITARIANISM OF THE LEFT”
“TOTALITARIANISM OF THE RIGHT”
Communism
Fascism & Nazism
Collective ownership of wealth
Private ownership of wealth
Internationalist
Nationalist
Arise in undeveloped countries
Arise in developed countries
Working class support
Middle class support
Ex: USSR under Stalin, China under Mao
Ex: Germany under Hitler, Italy under Mussolini

6. THE TRADITIONAL LINEAR SPECTRUM

7. THE TRADITIONAL LINEAR SPECTRUM

8. THE HORSESHOE SPECTRUM

9. THE PIE-SHAPED SPECTRUM

10. 4 QUADRANT POLITICAL SPECTRUM

11. FASCISM

12. DEBATE OVER THE DEFINITION
When it arose
1 or more
Right or left? (1920 shift)
Intense debate over how to define fascism (no agreement on the definition)
Some argue it arose with WWI, but others argue that it existed before WWI
Are there fascismS (more than one) or just Italian Fascism - can others be considered fascist too
Is fascism on the right on on the left? Mussolini began on the left (socialism), but moved toward the right (fascism became anti-socialist)
Fascism has been compared to conservatism, totalitarianism, Bolshevism. However, Fascists regarded themselves as something altogether new and unto themselves.

13. POLITICAL DOCTRINE VS. ACTION
No inherent ideological doctrine. Mussolini believed in action prior to doctrine; the movement should never be sacrificed to its principles.
Mussolini’s movement was therefore driven by pragmatism rather than principles.

14. DEFINITION (AS BEST IT CAN BE)
Anti- … socialist, communist, radical, democratic, republican, feminism, liberal, conservative
Pro- … nationalism, volunteerism
Organization: emphasis on political symbols and choreography; mass party militia; use of violence; youth movement; dynamic, charismatic leader
Not essentially racist
(1) fascism consists of a series of negations:
anti-socialist anti-communist anti-radical
anti-democratic anti-republican anti-feminism
anti-liberal anti-conservative
(2) what fascism is for:
new nationalist authoritarian state - devotion to the state (vs. communists advocated devotion to class, transcending national borders)
importance of the will, volunteerism (new, self-created fascist man)
(3) tension between the movement and the leader
(4) organization and style are key to defining fascism
uniform political choreography, mass party militia
willingness to use violence for political ends
(5) youth movement - followers very young; leaders younger than leaders of other movements → dynamism
(6) fascism capable of using technology and modernity to its advantage (ex. use of radio and film for propaganda)
(7) fascism is not essentially racist

15. NAZISM

16. NAZISM
Germany / Hitler
Fascism + racism/anti-Semitism

17. COMMUNISM

18. COMMUNISM
USSR / Stalin
Theory vs. practice