My view on Trump and all those other narcissists out there.
What is Totalitarianism?
Totalitarianism is a form of government in which the state’s power is unlimited and is used to control virtually all aspects of public and private life. This control extends to all political and financial matters, as well as the attitudes, morals, and beliefs of the people.
The concept of totalitarianism was developed in the 1920s by Italian fascists who attempted to put a positive spin on it by referring to what they considered totalitarianism’s “positive goals” for society. However, most Western civilizations and governments quickly rejected the concept of totalitarianism and continue to do so today.
One distinctive feature of totalitarian governments is the existence of an explicit or implied national ideology, a set of beliefs intended to give meaning and direction to the entire society.
According to Russian history expert and author Richard Pipes, Fascist Italian Prime Minister
Benito Mussolini once summarized the basis of totalitarianism as, “Everything within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.”
Examples of characteristics that might be present in a totalitarian state include:
- Rule enforced by a single dictator
- The presence of a single ruling political party
- Strict censorship, if not total control of the press
- Constant dissemination of pro-government propaganda
- Mandatory service in the military for all citizens
- Mandatory population control practices
- Prohibition of certain religious or political groups and practices
- Prohibition of any form of public criticism of the government
- Laws enforced by secret police forces or the military
Typically, the characteristics of a totalitarian state tend to cause the people to fear their government. Rather than trying to allay that fear, totalitarian rulers tend to encourage and use it to ensure the people’s cooperation.
Early examples of totalitarian states include Germany under
Joseph Stalin and
Adolph Hitler, and Italy under Benito Mussolini. More recent examples of totalitarian states include Iraq under
Saddam Hussein and
North Korea under Kim Jong-un.
Fuck all these selfish arseholes.