Totalitarian Rule
Totalitarian rule is a form of governance in which a single political party or leader exercises absolute control over the state, making all legislative decisions without public input. This system limits individual freedoms and imposes strict social controls dictated by the ruling authority. Totalitarianism is often seen as a subset of authoritarianism, distinguished by its goal of creating a flourishing society through centralized control, as opposed to merely maintaining the leader’s personal power. Historical examples include fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini, Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, and Democratic Kampuchea in Cambodia.
In a totalitarian system, the government maintains authority over all aspects of life, including the judiciary and the media, often employing propaganda and surveillance to suppress dissent. Citizens are frequently subjected to severe penalties for any opposition, leading to a culture of fear and compliance. Although states like North Korea are prominent examples of contemporary totalitarianism, the classification can be contentious, as various observers may include other regimes in the totalitarian category. As technology progresses, totalitarian governments have increasingly utilized advanced surveillance methods to bolster their control, raising concerns about the implications of digital monitoring in such systems.
Subject Terms
Totalitarian Rule
Guiding Premise
A totalitarian government is one in which a single political party maintains absolute control over the state and is responsible for creating all legislation without popular referendum. In general, totalitarianism is considered a type of authoritarian government where the laws and principles used to govern the country are based on the authority of the leading political group or dictator. Citizens under totalitarian regimes have limited freedoms and are subject to social controls dictated by the state.
The concept of totalitarianism evolved in fascist Italy (1922–43) and was first used to describe the Italian government under dictator Benito Mussolini. The term became popular in the 1930s among critics of the authoritarian governments of fascist Italy and Nazi Germany (1933–45). Other historical examples of totalitarian states include Stalinist Russia (1924–53) and Democratic Kampuchea (1975–82) in Cambodia.
Supporters of the totalitarian philosophy believe that a strong central government, with absolute control over all aspects of society, can achieve progress by avoiding political debate and power struggles between interest groups. In theory, totalitarian regimes—like that of Nazi Germany and modern North Korea—could more effectively mobilize resources and direct a nation toward a set of overarching goals. Adolf Hitler achieved vast increases in military power during a short period of time by controlling all procedural steps involved in promoting military development. In practice, however, pure totalitarianism has never been achieved, as citizens and political groups generally find ways to subvert complete government control.
Totalitarianism differs from authoritarianism in that a totalitarian government is based on the idea that the highest leader takes total control to create a flourishing society for the benefit of the people. By contrast, authoritarian regimes are based on the authority of a single charismatic individual who develops policies designed to maintain personal power, rather than promote public interest. However, the considerable overlap between the two classifications means that not all sources agree on which states are or have been considered totalitarian. In the early twenty-first century, North Korea is the most famous active example of a government widely deemed totalitarian, while states such as the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, Vladimir Putin's Russia, and Xi Jinping's China are considered examples by some observers.
Typical Structure
In a fully realized totalitarian system, a single leader or group of leaders controls all governmental functions, appointing individuals to serve in various posts to facilitate the development of legislation and oversee the enforcement of laws. In Nazi Germany, for instance, Hitler created a small group of executives to oversee the operation of the government. Governmental authority was then further disseminated through a complex network of departments, called ministries, with leaders appointed directly by Hitler.
Some totalitarian nations may adopt a state constitution to create the appearance of democratic popular control. In North Korea, the country officially operates under a multiparty democratic system, with citizens guaranteed the right to elect leaders to both the executive and legislative branches of government. In practice, the Workers' Party of North Korea is the only viable political party, as it actively controls competing parties and suppresses any attempt to mount political opposition. Under Supreme Leader Kim Il-sung, the Workers' Party amended the constitution to allow Kim to serve as the sole executive leader for life, without the possibility of being removed from office by any governmental action. He was succeeded by his son Kim Jong-il and then his grandson Kim Jong-un in a continuation of the totalitarian structure.
In some cases, totalitarian regimes may favor a presidential system, with the dictator serving officially as president, while other totalitarian governments may adopt a parliamentary system, with a prime minister as head of government. Though a single dictator generally heads the nation with widespread powers over a variety of governmental functions, a cabinet or group of high-ranking ministers may also play a prominent role in disseminating power throughout the various branches of government.
Role of the Citizen
Citizens in totalitarian regimes are by definition subject to strict social controls exerted by the leading political party. In many cases, totalitarian governments restrict the freedom of the press, expression, and speech in an effort to limit opposition to the government. In addition, totalitarian governments may use the threat of police or military action to prevent protest movements against the leading party. Totalitarian governments maintain absolute control over the courts and any security agency, and the legal/judicial system therefore exists only as an extension of the leading political party.
Totalitarian governments like North Korea's also attempt to restrict citizens' access to information considered subversive. For instance, North Korean citizens cannot freely utilize the Internet or any other informational source but are instead allowed access only to government-approved websites and publications. In many cases, the attempt to control access to information creates a black market for publications and other forms of information banned by government policy.
In some cases, government propaganda and restricted access to information creates a situation in which citizens actively support the ruling regime. Citizens may honestly believe that the social and political restrictions imposed by the ruling party are necessary for the advancement of society. In other cases, citizens may accept governmental control to avoid reprisal from the military and police forces. Most totalitarian regimes have established severe penalties, including imprisonment, corporal punishment, and death, for criticizing the government or refusing to adhere to government policy.
As technology has advanced, surveillance and control networks at the disposal of totalitarian states have become more sophisticated. In addition to more traditional technologies, such as cameras, facial recognition, geolocation, and data surveillance software have also been deployed to serve totalitarian ends. Concerns have been raised about the totalitarian potential of machine-learning algorithms and artificial intelligence as well.
Bibliography
Arendt, Hannah. The Origins of Totalitarianism. Penguin Classics, 2017.
Barrington, Lowell. Comparative Politics: Structures and Choices. Wadsworth, 2012.
Gleason, Abbot. Totalitarianism: The Inner History of the Cold War. Oxford UP, 1995.
“Government Type.” The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 2024, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/government-type/. Accessed 11 July 2024.
Longley, Robert. “Totalitarianism, Authoritarianism, and Fascism: What Is the Difference?” ThoughtCo, 2 Mar. 2022, www.thoughtco.com/totalitarianism-authoritarianism-fascism-4147699. Accessed 11 July 2024.
McEachern, Patrick. Inside the Red Box: North Korea's Post-Totalitarian Regime. Columbia UP, 2010.
Mozur, Paul. “China Moves towards ‘Digital Totalitarian State’ as Surveillance Technology Continues to Advance.” The Independent, 18 Dec. 2019, www.independent.co.uk/tech/china-technology-surveillance-network-totalitarian-state-spy-a9251971.html. Accessed 11 July 2024.