Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism is a political regime and form of government in which the State strives for full control over all aspects of public and private life of citizens. The totalitarian regimes of the 20th century like Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and the Soviet Union, had a significant impact on world politics and economics. Let's look at the development of totalitarianism, its main features and the participation of totalitarian countries in world processes in the 20th century and beyond.
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The historical development of totalitarianism
Ideas close to totalitarianism have existed since ancient times, but this regime acquired its true appearance in the 20th century. Hannah Arendt is considered the founder of the theory of fascism, which emphasizes its main characteristics: the pursuit of full power, the use of ideology to combat violence and control, as well as the presence of charismatic leaders.
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The Soviet Union (1924-1991). After Lenin's death, Joseph Stalin regained his power and began widespread repression, known as the Great Terror. The Soviet regime controlled all spheres of life, including economics, culture and science, and actively participated in international politics, spreading communist ideology.
Prime Example of Totalitarianism
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North Korea: A highly centralized country under the Kim dynasty, with strict control over all aspects of life and high restrictions on civil freedoms.
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Features of totalitarianism
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Absolute control of the state. In all countries, the state controls all spheres of citizens' lives: politics, economics, culture and personal life.​
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Ideology: Totalitarianism is a super-lethal form of authoritarianism that wants total control over the lives of its citizens, whereas authoritarianism simply accepts the blind submission of its citizens to authority. While totalitarian states tend to have a highly developed guiding ideology, authoritarian states usually do not.
So whilst authoritarianism is inherent in such types of government as monarchy, oligarchy or dictatorship, Totalitarianism is a principle characteristic of communist or fascist governments, which do not merely encourage blind obedience, but want to remake its citizens into absolutely faithful devotees of the state and its agenda, no matter what the cost.​
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As a united party and leader. Power is concentrated in the hands of the party and leaders with unlimited power. Charming leaders like Hitler and Stalin played an important role in maintaining power. They also strive to eliminate competitors in every possible way. Like, for example, Stalin and his great terror.
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Oppression and fear. The dictatorships use mass repression, arrests, tortures and murders to maintain power in their hands. This creates an atmosphere of fear and suppression for all who are not agree with state.
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Propaganda and mass media control. The information sources are controlled by the government and is used to spread ideology, suppress alternative ideas and provide the only 'truth'.
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Totalitarianism and globalization in the 20th century
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Participation in world wars
The dictatorship played an important role at the beginning and during the Second World War. Third Reich and Fascist Italy attempted to expand their territory more and establish puppet governments. The Soviet Unioneven and even its allies in the anti-Hitler Coalition hoped to expand their sphere of influence in Europe and Asia.
The Cold War
After 1945, the world was divided into two spheres: the western capitalistic, led by the United States, and the Eastern Socialists, led by the Soviet Union. The Cold War became an arena of ideological conflict and struggle for global influence. The Soviet Union and its allies sought to spread communist ideology around the world by supporting the revolutionary movement and creating military groups such as the Warsaw Pact.
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The decline of totalitarian regimes and post-totalitarian globalization
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The collapse of the Soviet Union.
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The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of one of the most powerful dictatorships. This event was a turning point in the history of globalization. The former socialist countries began to transition to a market economy and integrate into the global economic system.
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China and economic reforms.
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China is a united country. Under Deng Xiaoping's leadership, economic reforms began in the country in the late 1970s, combining elements of a market economy with authoritarian political domination. China's economy started to grow rapidly, and the country became one of the largest players in the world. However, the Chinese Communist Party's political control remained strained, raising concerns about respect for human rights and democratic principles.
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The impact of totalitarianism on modern globalization
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Authoritarianism and the global economy.
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In today's world, there are an authoritarian countries that, although not absolutely totalitarian, largely control political and economic life. Countries such as China and Russia are actively involved in the global economy, using their resources and influence to strengthen national interests.
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Information technology and control
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The development of information technology opens up new opportunities for totalitarian control. Modern authoritarian states use digital technologies to track citizens, control information, and suppress conflicts. In addition, globalization and Internet access pose new challenges for the regime as they disseminate alternative concepts and information.
Conclusion
Totalitarianism left a deep mark on the history of the twentieth century, having a significant impact on world politics and economics. The dictatorship as a form of government has played an important role in global conflicts and ideological conflicts that have shaped modern world politics. Although the destruction of most totalitarian regimes, the legacy of totalitarianism continues to influence modern globalization, especially now when world is becoming more and more connected due to development of digital technologies and information systems. It is important to remember the lessons of the past and try to protect our democratic values and human rights in a globalized world.