Totalitarianism is a political system where the government exerts total control over all aspects of life, characterized by an all-powerful leader and systematic use of terror and violence. Key features include a cult of the leader, radical ideology, mass mobilization, indoctrination, and the suppression of dissent through secret police. Historical examples include Benito Mussolini's fascist regime in Italy, Joseph Stalin's communist state in the Soviet Union, and Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany, each using their own methods to maintain control and promote their ideologies.

1. TOTALITARIANISM

2. Totalitarianism Defined Government controls every aspect of life No privacy or independent organizations Political system dominates: Religion Family life Economy Education All powerful leader

3. Totalitarian Leaders Mussolini Stalin Hitler

4. Logic of Totalitarianism In order to create a perfect society out of imperfect human beings, the political system requires a high level of coercive control over every facet of life.

5. Totalitarianism’s Features http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v =Xu-g1Oe26Sw&feature=related There are seven (7): Cult of the leader Radical ideology Organization Mass mobilization and indoctrination Use of secret police Central control Use of terror and violence

6. Cult of the Leader Supreme, autonomous Hero worship Wise Paternalistic Charismatic

7. Radical Ideology Control is official, total, comprehensive Exploits popular fears and prejudices Legitimates a revolutionary break from the past Provides scapegoat for past wrongs Explains present sacrifices Promises a future of peace and plenty

8. Organization Single, political party serves leader in promoting ideology Party is subservient to leader No dissent permitted!

9. Mass mobilization and indoctrination Fanatic followers make any sacrifice Regime mobilizes against any internal or external enemy Opponents, scapegoats, counter-revolutionaries Use aggressive warfare to keep people mobilized

10. Secret Police Secret police and informers are used to monitor and control citizenry

11. Central Control Control all organizations Schools the Arts Clubs News media Labor unions Churches Universities Economy

12. Terror and Violence To smooth the way to a take-over Creates atmosphere of crisis and instability Dramatizes inability of old government to provide security To maintain control afterward Keeps population too terrorized to dissent

13. Benito Mussolini – Italy http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v = hIxAsangFZc&feature = PlayList&p =5D4F6CCBE0FA804A&playnext=1&playnext_from= PL&index =16 Benito Mussolini convinced war veterans that they needed to fight the politicians who were destroying Italy • Fascism – strong, centralized government headed by a powerful dictator; rooted in nationalism • Did not attempt to control farms & factories like Communism; many Italians feared Communism • March on Rome (1922) – Italian king allowed him to form new government • Il duce (the chief) – crushed all opposition and controlled every aspect of life

14. Josef Stalin – Soviet Union http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v = IkCXtMHCUTc&feature = PlayList&p =3C8D236CF8BFAC04&playnext=1&playnext_from= PL&index =12 • Joseph Stalin stopped at nothing to create a model Communist state • Make it a truly socialist economy – stamping out all private enterprise especially private farming, ordered collectivization, and destruction of kulaks • Five-year plans (3) – transform into industrial power, by 1939 it was third largest • Police state – critics were arrested & shipped off to forced labor camp in Siberia • Tens of thousands public officials, bureaucrats, military officers were “enemies of the state” and executed • 8-13 million people die; millions more from famine caused by restructuring of Soviet society • Maintain complete control over citizens; no rights

15. Adolf Hitler – Nazi Germany http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v =80lLU5-yji8 Adolf Hitler appealed to jobless soldiers who joined Nazi (Natl. Socialist German Workers’ Party) who had no ties to Communism and hated it • Nazism – based on nationalism; goal of uniting all German speaking people; Aryans superior to Jews, Slavs and non-whites; national expansion (beliefs laid out in Mein Kampf ) • Fuhrer (the leader) – desperate people turned to him during Great Depression • Dismantled Weimar Republic to establish Third Reich (1. Charlemagne; 2. Bismarck) which would be the “ thousand-year Reich”