TotalitarianismTotalitarianism

Daniel LazarDaniel Lazar

Definition of Totalitarian Political SystemsDefinition of Totalitarian Political Systems

Controls every aspect of life, so that there Controls every aspect of life, so that there is no private sphere or independent is no private sphere or independent organizations.  The political system organizations.  The political system penetrates the whole society - dominating penetrates the whole society - dominating religion, family life, economy, education, religion, family life, economy, education, everything. At the very top is the all-everything. At the very top is the all-powerful leader.powerful leader.

Examples that Fit the Definition GivenExamples that Fit the Definition Given

No pure types but these regimes had No pure types but these regimes had totalitarian elements:totalitarian elements:

Nazi Germany, 1933-1945Nazi Germany, 1933-1945Stalinist Soviet Union, 1925 to 1953Stalinist Soviet Union, 1925 to 1953China under Mao Zedong, 1949 to 1976China under Mao Zedong, 1949 to 1976Cambodia (Kampuchea) under Khmer Cambodia (Kampuchea) under Khmer

Rouge, early 1970sRouge, early 1970s

Logic of totalitarianismLogic of totalitarianism

Creating a perfect society out of imperfect Creating a perfect society out of imperfect human beings requires a high level of human beings requires a high level of coercive control of every facet of life.coercive control of every facet of life.

In contrast, authoritarian governments are In contrast, authoritarian governments are

not interested in creating a utopia but not interested in creating a utopia but maintaining control over existing society. maintaining control over existing society. Coercion only used against perceived Coercion only used against perceived enemies of the state. enemies of the state.

Features of totalitarianismFeatures of totalitarianism

1. the cult of the leader. Leader must be supreme and autonomous - 1. the cult of the leader. Leader must be supreme and autonomous - Hero worship. The Leader is perceived as wise, paternal, Hero worship. The Leader is perceived as wise, paternal, charismatic.  charismatic. 

2. radical ideology: official, total, comprehensive. It exploits popular 2. radical ideology: official, total, comprehensive. It exploits popular fears and prejudices. The ideology inspires and legitimates a fears and prejudices. The ideology inspires and legitimates a revolutionary break from the past:revolutionary break from the past: a.) provides a scapegoat for past wrongsa.) provides a scapegoat for past wrongs b). explains present sacrifices b). explains present sacrifices c.) promises a future of peace & plentyc.) promises a future of peace & plenty

Features of totalitarianismFeatures of totalitarianism

3. organization. A single political party serves the leader in 3. organization. A single political party serves the leader in promoting the ideology. The party initially might be promoting the ideology. The party initially might be powerful, but it becomes subservient to the leader. In powerful, but it becomes subservient to the leader. In time, no dissent permitted even among party elites. time, no dissent permitted even among party elites.

4.  mass mobilization & indoctrination. Fanatic followers 4.  mass mobilization & indoctrination. Fanatic followers make any sacrifice. Regime mobilizes against internal make any sacrifice. Regime mobilizes against internal enemies (opponents, scapegoats, enemies (opponents, scapegoats, counterrevolutionaries) and external enemies. counterrevolutionaries) and external enemies. Use aggressive warfare (that is, wars without proper Use aggressive warfare (that is, wars without proper justification, not in self-defense) to keep the people justification, not in self-defense) to keep the people mobilized.mobilized.

Features of totalitarianismFeatures of totalitarianism

5.  use of secret police. All sovereign states 5.  use of secret police. All sovereign states monopolize armed services and police, but monopolize armed services and police, but totalitarian states also use secret police and totalitarian states also use secret police and informers to monitor and control the citizenry.informers to monitor and control the citizenry.

6.  central control of all organizations, including 6.  central control of all organizations, including schools, the arts, clubs, news media, labor schools, the arts, clubs, news media, labor unions, universities, churches, the economy. No unions, universities, churches, the economy. No separate organizations; no civil society.separate organizations; no civil society.

Features of totalitarianismFeatures of totalitarianism

7.  use of terror and violence:  7.  use of terror and violence:  To smooth the way to a takeover.  Creates an To smooth the way to a takeover.  Creates an

atmosphere of crisis and political instability. atmosphere of crisis and political instability. Dramatizes inability of old government to Dramatizes inability of old government to provide security.provide security.

To maintain control afterward. Keeps the To maintain control afterward. Keeps the population too terrorized to dissent. population too terrorized to dissent.

Terror & ViolenceTerror & Violence

Totalitarian leaders may become so Totalitarian leaders may become so obsessed with total control that they obsessed with total control that they eliminate not just enemies but loyal eliminate not just enemies but loyal deputies who could become rivals. Some deputies who could become rivals. Some even imagine enemies where none exists even imagine enemies where none exists & conduct bloody purges. & conduct bloody purges.

Examples from Hitler, Lenin, Stalin and Examples from Hitler, Lenin, Stalin and Mao Zedong.Mao Zedong.

Difference between Difference between violence & terrorviolence & terror

ViolenceViolence can be useful to dictators. can be useful to dictators. 1. enhances leader’s status.1. enhances leader’s status.2. brings economic gain (confiscating property of victims).2. brings economic gain (confiscating property of victims).3. punishes political opponents and thereby discourages future dissent.3. punishes political opponents and thereby discourages future dissent.4.4. destroys a group completely. May help solidify support among the other destroys a group completely. May help solidify support among the other

groups.groups.

TerrorTerror useful in the short term. It is arbitrary and unpredictable. useful in the short term. It is arbitrary and unpredictable. Goal: to produce an extreme fear in populace to paralyze them into an utter Goal: to produce an extreme fear in populace to paralyze them into an utter

lack of resistance.  Terror creates an emotional and psychological state. lack of resistance.  Terror creates an emotional and psychological state. Where violence is a Where violence is a reactionreaction to resistance, terror seeks to to resistance, terror seeks to preventprevent resistance from ever forming. resistance from ever forming. 

Terror serves two objectives: Terror serves two objectives:  1. to maintain control over society (by eliminating any possible opposition 1. to maintain control over society (by eliminating any possible opposition

before the fact), and before the fact), and 2. to transform the society to a new and radical goal (which people 2. to transform the society to a new and radical goal (which people

ordinarily would strongly resist).  Called state terror.ordinarily would strongly resist).  Called state terror.

Example of state terrorExample of state terror

The Khmer Rouge, a radical Maoist group, The Khmer Rouge, a radical Maoist group, sought to create a socialist utopia in Cambodia sought to create a socialist utopia in Cambodia (Kampuchea) from 1975 to 1978. Policies left (Kampuchea) from 1975 to 1978. Policies left between 1 to 3 million dead, directly or indirectly. between 1 to 3 million dead, directly or indirectly.

Regime relied on terror to remake society, Regime relied on terror to remake society, including to eliminate family & clan loyalties. including to eliminate family & clan loyalties. Even children used as spies – and sometimes Even children used as spies – and sometimes killers - of their parents.killers - of their parents.

See, for example, the film See, for example, the film TheThe Killing FieldsKilling Fields

State terror over timeState terror over time

Once a reputation for terror is established, a regime Once a reputation for terror is established, a regime does not need to continue the high level of actual terror. does not need to continue the high level of actual terror. It can use rumors and lies to convince people that the It can use rumors and lies to convince people that the government is both invincible and omniscient (all-government is both invincible and omniscient (all-knowing). The people will believe that resistance is knowing). The people will believe that resistance is futile. futile. 

In addition, terror becomes less necessary as a In addition, terror becomes less necessary as a revolutionary government becomes more legitimate. revolutionary government becomes more legitimate. Regime then has other means of ensuring obedience, Regime then has other means of ensuring obedience, such as material incentives.such as material incentives.

State terror over time State terror over time

However, in the long term, terror is highly However, in the long term, terror is highly dysfunctional. dysfunctional. 1. Harms productivity and creativity, 1. Harms productivity and creativity, damaging economy & technological damaging economy & technological innovation. innovation. 2. Destroys an individual's trust in 2. Destroys an individual's trust in government & other people, leading to government & other people, leading to break‑down of community and even family break‑down of community and even family ties. ties. 

For DiscussionFor Discussion1.1. Define the point at which an authoritarian regime becomes Define the point at which an authoritarian regime becomes

totalitarian.totalitarian.2.2. To what extent were the following regimes totalitarian:To what extent were the following regimes totalitarian:

Stalin’s USSRStalin’s USSR Idi Amin’s UgandaIdi Amin’s Uganda Mao’s ChinaMao’s China The GDRThe GDR

3.3. My research suggests that totalitarian regimes are a thing of the My research suggests that totalitarian regimes are a thing of the past.past.

Are there modern totalitarian regimes?Are there modern totalitarian regimes? Do modern, empowering technologies (the internet, free travel) Do modern, empowering technologies (the internet, free travel)

preempt us from total control?preempt us from total control? Which modern leaders, if any, have developed a cult of personality?Which modern leaders, if any, have developed a cult of personality?

4.4. Can you imagine a world where a wave of totalitarianism Can you imagine a world where a wave of totalitarianism reemerges? Is this likely/unlikely? Preventable? reemerges? Is this likely/unlikely? Preventable?

Modern Authoritarianism:Modern Authoritarianism:The case-studies belows are deemed “not free” by the Freedom House Index. You are free to The case-studies belows are deemed “not free” by the Freedom House Index. You are free to

choose authoritarian regimes that are not on this list. We will use the Freedom House index and other choose authoritarian regimes that are not on this list. We will use the Freedom House index and other tools to gauge the state of modern authoritarianismtools to gauge the state of modern authoritarianism

The Middle EastThe Middle East The Shah and The Shah and

Ahmadinejad (Iran)Ahmadinejad (Iran) Colonel Mu’ammar al-Colonel Mu’ammar al-

Qadhafi (Libya)Qadhafi (Libya) Hosni Mubarak (Egypt)Hosni Mubarak (Egypt) King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud

(Saudi Arabia)(Saudi Arabia) Central AsiaCentral Asia

General Pervez Musharraf General Pervez Musharraf (Pakistan)(Pakistan)

Islam Karimov (Uzbekistan)Islam Karimov (Uzbekistan) AsiaAsia

The CCP in ChinaThe CCP in China Kim Jong Il (North Korea)Kim Jong Il (North Korea)

AfricaAfrica Joseph Kabila (Congo or Joseph Kabila (Congo or

Kinsasha)Kinsasha) Robert Mugabe Robert Mugabe

(Zimbabwe)(Zimbabwe) Omar al-Bashir (Sudan)Omar al-Bashir (Sudan)

““Europe”Europe” Alyaksandr Lukashenka Alyaksandr Lukashenka

(Belarus)(Belarus) Vladimir Putin-Dmitry Vladimir Putin-Dmitry

Medvedev (Russia)Medvedev (Russia) Latin AmericaLatin America

Fidel-Raul Casto (Cuba)Fidel-Raul Casto (Cuba) Others?Others?