Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism Definition

These terms refer to two somewhat different political manifestations found in dictatorships, although they are often (mistakenly) used interchangeably. Let's contrast these complex definitions before moving on:

Totalitarianism Characteristics

Totalitarianism is often characterized by highly restrictive laws that affect many aspects of the lives of the citizens of the state. A totalitarian state is typically led by a single dictator who holds absolute power. Though characterized by the total control of the state over its citizens' lives, totalitarianism is not exclusive to any one political ideology: in history, it has been manifested in fascist, communist, monarchist, and other types of governments.

Characteristics of Totalitarianism:

• restrictive laws affecting all facets of citizens' lives
• presence of a single dictator with absolute power
• the state controls every part of life, both public and private
• mandatory military service
• censorship occurs in the media and arts
• prohibitions on certain religious practices
• widespread government propaganda
• criticism of the government suppressed
• methods of population control implemented
• use of coercion or suppressive tactics to control.

Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini coined the term totalitarianism. He said:

Examples of Totalitarianism

Some famous examples of totalitarianism are Stalin's Soviet Union, Adolf Hitler's Germany under National Socialism, the Kim Dynasty of North Korea, Benito Mussolini's Italy, and Chairman Mao Zedong's Communist China.

Fig. 1 - Authoritarian leaders

You might ask: what is the difference between totalitarianism and fascism? The short answer is fascism is a political ideology that has totalitarian roots. Totalitarianism is a government that may be ascribed to many different regimes. In other words, all fascist governments are totalitarian, but not all totalitarian governments are fascist.

Fascism is also anti-democratic, believing that centralized power held by a dictator is an excellent way to have an effective government and work in the nation's interests. Again, because fascism believes that an all-powerful dictator is the best way to strengthen the state and have an effective government, fascist states are by nature totalitarian, though not all totalitarian states are fascist.

Characteristics of Fascism

• Elevation of nationalism
• National identity tied to race or ethnic identity
• Excludes others who are not members of this group
• Anti-democratic
• A dictator with absolute power
• Totalitarian regime.

Totalitarianism vs. Authoritarianism

Again, the terms totalitarianism and authoritarianism are often used interchangeably. This is, however, a mistake. Let's look at the definition and the differences.

Authoritarianism Characteristics

• State control of the political process as well as individual freedoms
• Individual freedoms are allowed with some restriction
• Politicians are not answerable to the Constitution
• Leadership roles shifting and unclear
• Demand strict loyalty from citizens.

Examples of Authoritarianism

1. Cuba's Fidel Castro
2. Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.

Totalitarianism Facts

Now that we've discussed the definitions let's look at two totalitarian governments. Both were fascist, merging forces during World War ll, joining Japan to form the Axis powers.

Spread of Totalitarianism in Italy

The first fascist government to take power in history was the government of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Mussolini took power as Prime Minister in 1922. In the aftermath of World War I, Italy entered a period of political instability. Some Italians were unsatisfied that a large amount of territory promised to them by the Allies during negotiations to enter the war was not granted to them by the Paris Peace Conference. Much of the territories across the Adriatic Sea that Italy expected to take from Austro-Hungary after the war were given to the newly created kingdom known as Yugoslavia.

To some, the peace treaty humiliated the Italian state and a blemish on their national pride. Vittoria Mutilata (meaning "mutilated victory") was used to describe the feeling of being betrayed by the other allied powers. An economic downturn and unfulfilled promises to former soldiers further increased political instability. Radical socialists became more prevalent in Italian politics, and the new Italian fascists under Benito Mussolini rose in reaction. Mussolini had previously been a socialist but was ostracized after announcing his support in favor of Italy joining World War I.

Across Italy, fascist agitators known as blackshirts intimidated socialists and other political opponents. Mussolini sought to unite and take control of the blackshirts and was largely successful. Italian Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti feared both the socialists and fascists but sought to form a coalition government with Mussolini in an official position in hopes that a legitimate office would cause him to abandon the more extreme fascists. His plan was unsuccessful as both the communists and fascists gained seats in the parliamentary election, and the fascists were placed closer to a position of legitimate power.

The National Fascist Party of Italy (PNF - Partito Nazionale Fascista in Italian) was officially formed in 1921, and many fascists favored forcibly taking power from the government. However, Mussolini himself planned to gain power through legitimate means.

Eventually, the more volatile followers of the movement won out, and in October 1922, the fascists marched on Rome, though Mussolini did not join them. Italian King Victor Emmanuel III declined calls to use the military or police to violently suppress the fascists and instead chose to appoint Mussolini's Prime Minister the following day.

Fig. 2- Benito Mussolini, leader of fascist Italy

The fascists changed electoral laws to give the victorious party in elections a majority of parliamentary seats to strengthen the government as a whole and consolidate more power. The fascists gained a clear majority in the elections of 1924 both through a mix of Mussolini's legitimate popularity and blackshirt intimidation.

Following the murder of his political opponent Giacomo Matteotti, Mussolini was placed in a difficult position between trying not to alienate his remaining allies in the government and listening to his fascist subordinates, who encouraged him to be more even violent toward the opposition.

In January 1925, Mussolini chose to enter the Italian Chamber of Deputies and challenged his opponents to remove him from power. When none of them did, he emerged as a dictator, gaining the title of Head of the Government.

Though he continued to appoint officials outside his party for a time, following several assassination attempts in 1926, he banned all other political parties, making Italy a one-party totalitarian fascist state. With absolute power, Mussolini's government imposed many totalitarian laws throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

20th Century Totalitarianism in Europe

The interwar years saw similar economic and political instability in the German Weimar Republic and a weak democratic coalition government of many non-majority parties that failed to satisfy the people and gave way to extremist parties' rise.

Fig. 3 - Romanian fascist dictator Ion Antonescu (left) with Nazi foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop (right), in Munich June 1941.

In the case of Germany, Adolf Hitler took power as a dictator through emergency laws in 1933, and his Nazi party took inspiration from Mussolini's fascist ideology to create their fascist government.

The Nazi government's ideology was fascist and totalitarian in practice, but with a much heavier emphasis on German racial superiority and a mission to unite all members of the German race under one nation and one leader.

Though the overt racism of the Nazis initially put them at odds with Mussolini, who also had ambitions involving Austria, Germany's support of the Italian invasion of Ethiopia and intervention in the Spanish Civil War led the two countries toward friendly relations with each other.

Downfall of Fascism

The end of World War II in Europe saw the defeat of fascist Italy and Nazi Germany and the deaths of both Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. During the peace that followed, the other fascist governments in Europe mainly fell under the influence of the Soviet Union. They were replaced by pro-communist governments, with democratic governments established in the west.

Except for Spain and Portugal, fascism was effectively gone from Europe with the end of World War II. The remaining fascist governments of the Iberian peninsula gradually reformed and were gone by the end of the 1970s. In the 21st century, no openly-fascist governments exist, though political parties in many countries do exist with fascist nationalist influences.