TOTALITARIANISM

Ideology, in general terms, is a set of ideas held by individuals or groups, depending on their
sectors, that shapes and characterizes one’s social culture. From a Marxist perspective, ideology is also
referred to as a body of shared ideas and beliefs within a group that shapes and develops how a society
operates. It is seen as something that can distort our understanding of what should be done in reality and
can obscure the truth. Ideology can be viewed as either beneficial or detrimental, depending on one’s
perspective.

There are several types of ideology; one of them is totalitarianism. This involves a rigid set of ideas and
beliefs used to oppress power and silence opposition, effectively influencing society for better or worse,
depending on how it is applied and by whom.

Totalitarianism is a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial that requires complete
subservience to the state. "Totalitarian" of or relating to a political system in which the government has
complete control over the people. Under totalitarian government, widespread organized violence is
acceptable and occasionally required, as it is justified by the unwavering dedication to the state's ideology
and mission. Whole social groups were picked out for persecution and annihilation in Nazi Germany and
Stalin's Soviet Union, such as the Jews and the kulaks (rich peasant farmers), respectively. Public opinion
was swayed against the persecuted in each instance, and their treatment by the military and police was
accepted because they were associated with an outside foe and held responsible for the state's problems.

The History of Totalitarianism:

Italian dictator Benito Mussolini coined the term totalitarian in the early 1920s to characterize the new
fascist state of Italy, which he further described as “all within the state, none outside the state, none
against the state.” By the beginning of World War II, totalitarian had become synonymous with absolute
and oppressive single-party government. Other modern examples of totalitarian states include the Soviet
Union under Joseph Stalin, Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler, the People’s Republic of China under Mao
Zedong, and North Korea under the Kim dynasty.

General Characteristics of Totalitarianism:

In its broadest definition, totalitarianism is defined by a strong central government that uses repression
and force to try to govern and control every area of a person's life. The Mauryan dynasty in India (c. 321–
c. 185 BCE), the Qin dynasty in China (221–207 BCE), and the leadership of Zulu chief Shaka (c. 1816–
28 BCE) are historical instances of such centralized totalitarian governance. The earliest instances of
decentralized or popular totalitarianism, in which the state garnered resounding popular support for its
rule, were Nazi Germany (1933–45) and the Soviet Union under Stalin (1924–53). The birth of that
support was dependent on a compelling leader, and it was only made possible by contemporary
advancements in transportation and communication.
By replacing all political institutions with new ones and erasing all political, social, and legal traditions,
totalitarianism is often distinguished from dictatorship, despotism, or tyranny. To the exclusion of all
others, the totalitarian state pursues a certain goal, like industrialization or conquest. Regardless of the
cost, every resource is focused on achieving it. Anything that could help achieve the objective is
encouraged; anything that could hinder it is discouraged. This fixation gives rise to an ideology that
rationalizes all potential roadblocks and forces that could challenge the state by explaining everything in
terms of the objective. Because of the ensuing public backing, the state has the most discretion of any
type of governance. Political disagreements within the organization are not allowed, and any dissent is
labeled evil. The totalitarian state's sole ideological basis is the pursuit of the objective, therefore its
accomplishment can never be recognized.

Totalitarianism and autocracy:

Whether it is a single dictator or a group of power holders like a committee or party leadership,
totalitarianism is a more modern kind of autocracy that is defined by the concentration of power in one
place. This center limits social changes that could lead to opposition and uses force to suppress dissent.
Since it is absolute power, the center's authority is neither constrained by real sanctions or subject to
effective constraints.

Totalitarian governments and other autocracies often try to gain legitimacy by creating comparable
institutions or by using the wording of non-autocratic regimes' constitutions. For instance, many
contemporary totalitarian nations frequently create institutions—such as legislatures or assemblies,
elections and political parties, courts, and legal codes—that are largely identical to those found in
constitutional democracies. Likewise, the rhetoric of authoritarian constitutions is frequently framed in
terms of democratic or popular rule ideologies. The distinction is that in totalitarian systems, neither the
institutions nor the constitutional provisions serve as effective restraints on the power of the single center;
rather, they serve as fronts for the hierarchical processes that subjugate all state officials to the directives
of the ruling person or group. The concentration of power in one location and the use of force to quell
resistance are the fundamental characteristics of autocratic governance.

The use of state power to force an official ideology on its the public sets totalitarianism apart from earlier
types of authoritarianism. The state police or secret police, along with other institutions of compulsion,
are used to impose the orthodoxy of the declared beliefs of the state. As previously said, nonconformity of
opinion is viewed as the equivalent of resistance or hostility to the government. The second characteristic
that sets totalitarianism apart is the existence of a single party that is centralized and made up solely of
devoted supporters of the government. The party serves as a recruiting tool for the governing group, a
means of social control, and a medium for ideological instruction.
While often criticized, totalitarianism also owns certain benefits and advantages in specific contexts. It
can be perceived as beneficial to society because it provides a unified and decisive response from the
government during crises. In such systems, the government acts as the sole authority to make critical
decisions for the nation, which is crucial for ensuring a coordinated and efficient response to challenging
situations. This means that when a crisis arises, there is already a predetermined plan or decision in place
to address it. This fixed and centralized approach contributes to societal stability and offers predictability
for the population, as people can feel reassured knowing that solutions and plans have already been
prepared. In society, totalitarianism can also be beneficial because there are sets of rules and regulations
that people in a society need to follow. This means that things will be more orderly and progressive since
conflicts and chaos that could arise will be minimized. With that, we can be assured that a stronger
community can be built in society. Even though totalitarianism is often criticized for having negative
effects, it can still have positive outcomes if applied correctly. If totalitarianism is not used for harmful
purposes, it can lead to beneficial results.