No countries in the 21st century officially have fascist governments, though political parties influenced by fascism exist in Europe. Fascists seek to instill a superiority complex and feelings of fear among the citizens against perceived enemies of the race or the nation. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Socialism And Capitalism In Harrison Bergeron, By Kurt Vonnegut 1237 Words | 5 Pages "Harrison Bergeron," written by Kurt Vonnegut at the time of the Cold War, is a short story that takes place in a future world of the year 2081 where the Handicapper General and the law force the beautiful to wear masks, the intelligent to wear earpieces that disrupt their thoughts, and the athletic to . While the Peoples Republic of China under Chairman Mao Zedong was considered a totalitarian state, modern-day China is more accurately described as an authoritarian state because its citizens are now allowed some limited personal freedoms. In 1936, Mussolini agreed to join Nazi Germany as one of the Axis Powers of World War II. His plan was unsuccessful as both the communists and fascists gained seats in the parliamentary election, and the fascists were placed closer to a position of legitimate power. Mussolini had previously been a socialist but was ostracized after announcing his support in favor of Italy joining World War I. See more Encyclopedia articles on: Political Science: Terms and Concepts. The personal economic incentives of capitalism are thus rendered impossible. Because pursuit of the goal is the only ideological foundation for the totalitarian state, achievement of the goal can never be acknowledged. However, Mussolini himself planned to gain power through legitimate means. Longley, Robert. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Definition and Examples, What Is Theocracy? lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Notable examples of totalitarian states include Italy under Benito Mussolini (192243), the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin (192453), Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler (193345), the Peoples Republic of China under the influence of Mao Zedong (194976), and North Korea under the Kim dynasty (1948 ). Totalitarianism is considered an extreme form of authoritarianism, in which government controls almost all aspects of the public and private lives of the people. Dissent is systematically suppressed and people terrorized by a secret police. True or False:Hitler became President of Germany in 1932. Who was the target of the Anti-Semitic laws passed between 1933-1934? Again, because fascism believes that an all-powerful dictator is the best way to strengthen the state and have an effective government, fascist states are by nature totalitarian, though not all totalitarian states are fascist. Totalitarianism vs. Authoritarianism vs. Fascism, "China Enshrines 'Xi Jinping Thought,' Elevating Leader to Mao-Like Status.". Most historians consider the first truly totalitarian regimes to have been formed during the chaotic aftermath of World War I when the rapid modernization of weapons and communications enabled totalitarian movements to exert their control. The second characteristic of totalitarianism is intolerance because totalitarian regimes do not tolerate negativing or even alternative views, there are only . Theoretically unburdened by the independent thought and effort required to succeed under a capitalistic system, individual citizens are free to concentrate solely on furthering the regimes ideological goals. used to control the hearts and minds of the citizens. Fascists observed how rapid, mass military mobilizations during World War I blurred the lines between the roles of civilians and combatants. English, science, history, and more. All resources are directed toward its attainment, regardless of the cost. Quiz, Central European Revolutions of 1848: History, Causes & Effects Examples of centralized rule dating further back in history that can be described as totalitarian include the Mauryan dynasty of India (c. 321c. 3 - Romanian fascist dictator Ion Antonescu (left) with Nazi foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop (right), in Munich June 1941. For example, while the former Soviet Union declared itself a democracy, its elections were not free and fair, as only one party with state-approved candidates was represented. It helped me pass my exam and the test questions are very similar to the practice quizzes on Study.com. In a police state, the police operate according to known and consistent procedures. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Katie teaches high school social studies and has a master's degree in history from Providence College. Totalitarianism is a political system in which the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life whenever necessary. Definition and Examples." Which of these was not part of the Treaty of Versailles? 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What are examples of totalitarian rule? | Britannica It is characterized by strong central rule that attempts to control and direct all aspects of individual life through coercion and repression. True or false:Mussolini had a realistic view of his popularity. Examples of centralized rule dating further back in history that can be described as totalitarian include the Mauryan dynasty of India (c. 321c. PDF Key Traits of Totalitarianism - Folsom Cordova Unified School District Some defense mechanisms are illustrated in her behavior and actions. authoritarianism - a form of government in which a hardline ruler allows some individual freedoms while demanding strict loyalty to the state. As seen in some east European and African countries, fascists often encourage ethnic cleansing across borders in the name of ideological and racial purity. Established as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea in 1948, North Korea remains the worlds longest-lasting totalitarian state. An error occurred trying to load this video. When they are said to be tyrannies, despotisms, or absolutisms, the basic general nature of such regimes is being denounced, for all these words have a strongly pejorative flavor. Totalitarianism is a form of government that attempts to assert total control over the lives of its citizens. control of media. Harrison Bergeron: Common Characteristics Of Dystopian Literature of the users don't pass the Totalitarianism quiz! Fascism came about during political and economic instability conditions after World War I. The fascist movement, which came from totalitarian government states during the 1920s-40s, originated first in Italy and then influenced similar movements in other European nations, most infamously in the case of Nazi Germany. While most totalitarian regimes have confined their activities within the geographical boundaries of the nations they controlled, fascist regimes have often harbored imperialistic ambitions. In addition, constitutional democracy and totalitarianism, as forms of the modern state, share many characteristics. A charismatic leader can use these longings to his advantage, gaining power by promising to lift the nation out of crisis and achieve new heights. In the 21st century, no openly-fascist governments exist, though political parties in many countries do exist with fascist nationalist influences. In the broadest sense, totalitarianism is characterized by strong central rule that attempts to control and direct all aspects of individual life through coercion and repression. (2022, December 5). Quiz & Worksheet - Characteristics of Totalitarianism, A government that holds total control over the citizens of its nation, A government that allows basic freedoms to its citizens, A government that allowed private ownership of business, A government that allows citizens to play a role in the development of laws, Totalitarianism: Definition, Characteristics & Examples, Western Civilization II Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans Course Practice, Liberalism, Radicalism, and Republicanism in the 1800s Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Fascist regimes use secret police forces and specially trained party insiders to spy against the citizens and deter them from indulging in anti-regime thought, speech, propaganda, and activities and encourage selective violence against perpetrators of such acts. by . Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Infoplease is part of the Sandbox Learning family of educational and reference sites for parents, teachers and students. Police operations within a totalitarian state often appear similar to those within a police state, but one important difference distinguishes them. Totalitarian governments typically pursue a special goal, such as industrialization or imperialism, intended to mobilize the population in its favor. READ: Communism in the Soviet Union (article) | Khan Academy Even when compared to extreme nationalistic ideologies, fascism is typically considered to be at the far-right end of the political spectrum. In 1964, Juan Jos Linz, Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Political Science at Yale University, described the four most recognizable characteristics of authoritarian states as: Modern dictatorships such as Venezuela under Hugo Chvez and Cuba under Fidel Castro typify authoritarian governments. "What Is Totalitarianism? Difference Between Totalitarianism, Authoritarianism, Fascism - ThoughtCo copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. The party is generally led by a dictator and, typically, participation in politics, especially voting, is compulsory. While totalitarian states typically demand a practically religious loyalty to a single highly developed ideology, most authoritarian states do not. Totalitarianism is very different from Democracy. Totalitarianism is a type of government and a political system that forbids all opposition parties, criminalizes individual and group opposition to the state and its claims, and imposes an extreme, if not total, degree of control and regulation over public and private life. What was the book that Hitler wrote while in prison? In the early 1920s Italian fascist Benito Mussolini coined the term totalitario to characterize the new fascist state of Italy, ruled under his philosophy of, Everything within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state. A few well-known examples of totalitarian regimes during this period include: Coming to power in 1928, Joseph Stalins secret police force had eliminated all potential opposition within the Communist Party by 1934. . Regardless of the economic or social cost, all resources are devoted to achieving the special goal. In each case the persecuted were linked with some external enemy and blamed for the states troubles, and thereby public opinion was aroused against them and their fate at the hands of the military and police was condoned. Stalin gained control by blackmailing many of the leaders in the communist government and eventually murdered his main rival, Leon Trotsky. West Virginia SBE v. Barnette (1943), In 1966, Chairman Mao declared the Chinese Cultural Revolution, 10 years of class warfare marked by the destruction of countless cultural artifacts and the rise of Maos adoring cult of personality. Despite his nearly God-like popularity, Maos Cultural Revolution resulted in the deaths of thousands to millions of people. By 1939, the Soviet people were so fearful of Stalin that mass arrests were no longer necessary. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed. Nie wieder prokastinieren mit unseren Lernerinnerungen. Create your account. In both, those in authority have a monopoly on the use of the nation's military power and on certain forms of mass communication; and the suppression of dissent, especially during times of crisis, often occurs in democracies as well. Definition and Examples, What Is Civic Engagement? Set individual study goals and earn points reaching them. Boards of education must comply with the Constitution. With the initial successes of the military campaigns of 1939-41, his plan was expanded into a vision of a hemispheric order that would embrace all of Europe, western Asia, and Africa and eventually the entire world. Stop procrastinating with our smart planner features. A totalitarian state is also typically led by a single dictator who holds absolute power. State relinquishes control of armed forces to military leaders, State censors newspapers and other forms of media, Create your account to access this entire worksheet, A Premium account gives you access to all lesson, practice exams, quizzes & worksheets, Western Civilization II Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans. The end of World War II in Europe saw the defeat of fascist Italy and Nazi Germany and the deaths of both Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. Let's look at the definition and the differences. For this quiz, you'll need to know the definition of a totalitarian government and what a totalitarian government has control of. Quiz, European Revolutions and Revolts from 1815-1832 I highly recommend you use this site! To this end, fascists encourage the growth of cults of national unity and racial purity. Stalin ruled as the absolute dictator of the Soviet Union throughout World War II and until his death in March 1953. democratic rights. https://www.britannica.com/question/What-are-examples-of-totalitarian-rule. Any dissent is branded evil, and internal political differences are not permitted. The end of World War II led to the downfall of fascism in Europe, with only Spain continuing to have a pseudo-fascist government for several more decades. You might ask: what is the difference between totalitarianism and fascism? 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ThoughtCo. with young people. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Longley, Robert. Definition and Examples. Qing Dynasty Overview & Fall | Qing, the Last Chinese Dynasty, Communism in China | History, Leaders & the CCP, What is Communism? Definition and Examples." What was a pretend race of people who were the original Germans with blond hair and blue eyes? True or False: the term totalitarian may apply to any form of government. In 1958, his Great Leap Forward agricultural to industrial conversion economic plan resulted in a famine that caused the deaths of over 40 million people. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Totalitarian governments control all mass media, including art and literature. Test your knowledge with gamified quizzes. True or False: All fascist governments are totalitarian, but not all totalitarian governments are fascist. According to Russian history expert and author Richard Pipes, Fascist Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini used the term totalitario to in the early 1920s to describe 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 rule.