Terminology

• Authoritarian governments represent the opposite of democracy.

• Rather than being guided by the people, Authoritarian Regimes tell the people what to do and expect them to obey.

1. Dictatorship

2. Oligarchy

3. Junta

4. Totalitarian

5. Theocracy

Dictatorship

• Absolute leaders in the Ancient world (Egypt, Mesopotamia)

• The Roman Republic – Democracy allowed for temporary dictatorship in times of crisis

• Middle Ages – European Kingdoms ruled by Absolute Monarchs

• Enlightenment and rise of Liberalism and Democracy ended much of this, but not altogether

• Arguments for Authoritarian Regimes

• Modern Examples?

The Great Man Theory

• Idea that a government can be best run by a man possessing extraordinary abilities.

• Democracy threatens to destroy social elitism

“The history of what man has accomplished in this world is at bottom the history of the Great Men who have worked here.”

- Thomas Carlyle.

Person of the Week: Friedrich Nietzsche 1844 - 1900

• German Philosopher

• Envisioned a future society run by an Ubermensch

• Argued that while democracy created equality, it also bred mediocrity, and only a superior person could achieve anything worthwhile.

• His ideas inspired the rise of totalitarian regimes in Europe after WWI

Zimbabwe

• Former British Colony of Rhodesia

• Gained Independence in 1980

• Population: 13,000,000

• Capital: Harare

Robert Mugabe (b.1924)

• As Prime Minister and then President he has been the only leader of Zimbabwe

• Self described as a Marxist, Socialist

• Fought for independence and against white minority rule

• Human Rights Issues: Political opponents have been subjected to torture, kidnappings, illegal imprisonment and extrajudicial killings

• Rigged Elections have kept him in power

• Economic Policy has involved printing money to pay debt Hyperinflation

The government was forced to abandon its currency in 2008 when Z$35 quadrillion = USD$1

Totalitarian IdeologyNovember 20th, 2017

Authoritarian vs. Totalitarian Government

• Authoritarian governments seek to control what is happening politically and perhaps economically in a state.

• Eg; Cuba under Castro. Planned economy, no elections or political rights

• Totalitarian governments seek to totally control all aspects of human life in a state.

• Unlike earlier non-democratic leaders, modern totalitarians sought to indoctrinate their populations and restructure society to fit their vision of the world

What happens?

• The rise of totalitarianism coincides with major advances in communication (radio, cinema, telegraph, airplanes, railroads, cars)

• Use of propaganda to wipe out opposition and create mass solidarity

• Ideology associated as a prescribed set of beliefs about human nature and reality. • Clear cut choices

• Easily identified enemies

• Condemn selfishness and individuality

• Cultural belief that the nation is a living organism and individuals are single cells, only valuable as part of the larger good.

Why?

• Use of force, lack of choice

• Totalitarian governments are most infamous for violence against their opponents

• Examples:

1) Black Shirts

2) S.A.

3) Gestapo

4) SS

5) KGB

Case in Point – Chile 1973

• Democratically elected socialist government led by Salvador Allende overthrown in US backed military coup

• General Augusto Pinochet takes power

• In the first year of Pinochet’s rule over 60,000 people were arrested, detained and interrogated. Some were subsequently tortured, executed or disappeared.

Crisis Theory

• Political Science Theory that conditions of acute distress (economic depression, war) produce such intense feelings of resentment, frustration, insecurity and fear that people are willing to accept drastic political solutions.

• Totalitarianism offers:• Charismatic leaders

• Simplistic solutions

• Easily defined enemies

• Promises of well being and glory

Dictatorial Government – November 21st

Dictatorships are always authoritarian

Not all authoritarian regimes are totalitarian

All totalitarian regimes are authoritarian

Quiz: Review from Yesterday

1. Nazi Party minister of propaganda

2. Theory that people accept extreme political ideas in times of economic desperation, upheaval, war, etc…

3. Dictator who overthrew democratically elected socialist government in Chile in the 1970’s.

Authoritarian/Totalitarian Governments

Historically, these extreme forms of government have taken on one of two forms

• Fascist or Communist

• How are Fascism and Communism similar and different?

• Read pages 164 – 166 in the text.• Summarize the general ideologies of both

Fascism and Communism• Create a list of the factors they share in

common• Create a list of their major differences

20th Century Dictators

1. Idi Amin

2. Francisco Franco

3. Ferdinand Marcos

4. Juan Peron

5. François Duvalier

6. General Suharto

7. Emanuel Noriega

8. Kim Il-sung

9. Enver Pasha

10.Slobodan Milosevic

11.Ho Chi Minh

12.Muamar Gadhafi

13.Pol Pot

14.Mao Tse-Tung

15.Ayatollah Khomeini

16.Saddam Hussein

20th Century Dictators Assignment

Objective: Become an expert on an infamous 20th century dictator and their government and share with the class

Format: Short PowerPoint Presentation

Due Date: Presentations will begin in class on Tuesday November 28th

Your presentation must address the following:

1. Birth/death dates of dictator

2. A map showing their country

3. How they took power and maintained control

4. Their policies and ruling ideology

5. Human Rights record

6. Their fate

20th Century Dictators Assignment RubricSlideshow• Information is in point form, no power-paragraph!• Meaningful images are used to enhance understanding of conceptsPresentation• Presenter does not read directly from slides• Presenter shows competent understanding and knowledge of what they

are talking aboutOverall• Presentation carefully covers all requirements mentioned in previous

instructions, particularly a discussion of points 3, 4, 5.• A properly documented works cited page is submitted showing a variety of

appropriate sources (academic, news, etc.)