totalitarianism, form of government that theoretically permits no individual freedom and that seeks to subordinate all aspects of the

individuals life to the authority of the government. Italian dictator Benito Mussolini coined the term totalitario 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 government.

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. Examples of such centralized totalitarian rule include the Maurya dynasty of India (c. 321c. 185 bc), the Chin dynasty of China (221206 bc), and the reign of Zulu chief Shaka (c. 181628). The totalitarian states of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler (193345) and the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin (192453) were the first examples of decentralized or popular totalitarianism, in which the state achieved overwhelming popular support for its leadership. This support was not spontaneous; its genesis depended on a charismatic leader; and it was made possible only by modern developments in communication and transportation.

Totalitarianism is often distinguished from dictatorship, despotism, or tyranny by its supplanting of all political institutions with new ones and its sweeping away of all legal, social, and political traditions. The totalitarian state pursues some special goal, such as industrialization or conquest, to the exclusion of all others. All resources are directed toward its attainment regardless of the cost. Whatever might further the goal is supported; whatever might foil the goal is rejected. This obsession spawns an ideology that explains everything in terms of the goal, rationalizing all obstacles that may arise and all forces that may contend with the state. The resulting popular support permits the state the widest latitude of action of any form of government. Any dissent is branded evil, and internal political differences are not permitted. Because pursuit of the goal is the only ideological foundation for the totalitarian state, achievement of the goal can never be acknowledged. Under totalitarian rule, traditional social institutions and organizations are discouraged and suppressed; thus the social fabric is weakened and people become more amenable to absorption into a single, unified movement. Participation in approved public organizations is at first

encouraged and then required. Old religious and social ties are supplanted by artificial ties to the state and its ideology. As pluralism and individualism diminish, most of the people embrace the totalitarian states ideology. The infinite diversity among individuals blurs, replaced by a mass conformity (or at least acquiescence) to the beliefs and behaviour sanctioned by the state. Large-scale, organized violence becomes permissible and sometimes necessary under totalitarian rule, justified by the overriding commitment to the state ideology and pursuit of the states goal. In Nazi Germany and Stalins Soviet Union, whole classes of people, such as the Jews and the kulaks (wealthy peasant farmers) respectively, were singled out for persecution and extinction. 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 the police was condoned. Police operations within a totalitarian state often appear similar to those within a police state, but one important difference distinguishes them. In a police state the police operate according to known, consistent procedures. In a totalitarian state the police operate without the constraints of laws and regulations. Their actions are unpredictable and directed by the whim of their rulers. Under Hitler and Stalin uncertainty was interwoven into the affairs of the state. The German constitution of the Weimar Republic was never abrogated under Hitler, but an enabling act passed by the Reichstag in 1933 permitted him to amend the constitution at will, in effect nullifying it. The role of lawmaker became vested in one man. Similarly, Stalin provided a constitution for the Soviet Union in 1936 but never permitted it to become the framework of Soviet law. Instead, he was the final arbiter in the interpretation of MarxismLeninismStalinism and changed his interpretations at will. Neither Hitler nor Stalin permitted change to become predictable, thus increasing the sense of terror among the people and repressing any dissent. LINKS Related Articles Aspects of the topic totalitarianism are discussed in the following places at Britannica.

Assorted References

form of political system (in political system: Autocratic versus nonautocratic rule) Totalitarianism, as already noted, has been a chief form of autocratic rule; it is distinguished from previous forms in its use of state power to impose an official ideology on its citizens. Nonconformity of opinion is treated as the equivalent of resistance or opposition to the government, and a formidable apparatus of compulsion, including various kinds of state police or secret police, is...

mistaken interpretation of Rousseaus works (in Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Swiss-born French philosopher): Major works of political philosophy) ...than that in which Rousseau speaks of forcing a man to be free. But it would be wrong to interpret these words in the manner of those critics who see Rousseau as a

prophet of modern totalitarianism. He does not claim that a whole society can be forced to be free but only that an occasional individual, who is enslaved by his passions to the extent of disobeying the law, can be...

purpose in electoral process (in election (political science): History of elections) ...had the purpose and effect of institutionalizing the diversity that had existed in the countries of that region. However, mass elections had quite different purposes and consequences under the one-party communist regimes of eastern Europe and the Soviet Union during the period from the end of World War II to 198990. Although these governments held elections, the contests were not...

restrictions on sexual behaviour (in human sexual behaviour: Social and cultural aspects) Apart from religion, the state sometimes imposes restrictions for purely secular reasons. The more totalitarian a government, the more likely it is to restrict or direct sexual behaviour. In some instances, this comes about simply as the consequence of a powerful individual (or individuals) being in a position to impose ideas upon the public. In other instances, one cannot escape the impression...

viewed by Arendt (in Hannah Arendt (American political scientist)) ...a major political thinker was established by her Origins of Totalitarianism (1951), which also treated 19th-century anti-Semitism, imperialism, and racism. Arendt viewed the growth of totalitarianism as the outcome of the disintegration of the traditional nationstate. She argued that totalitarian regimes, through their pursuit of raw political power and their neglect of material...

development in

Germany (in Germany: The totalitarian state) The main purpose and goal of the Nazi revolution was to establish a Volksgemeinschaft. Its creation required the purification and increase of the German race as well as its biological separation from the Jews, whose infusion of evil into the German bloodstream, the Nazis said, served to pollute and undermine Germanys well-being. Nazi efforts...

Italy (in Italy: The end of constitutional rule) During the next two years, which included several failed assassination attempts, Mussolini disbanded most of Italys constitutional and conventional safeguards against government autocracy. Elections were abolished. Free speech and free association disappeared, and the Fascist government dissolved opposition parties and unions. At the local level, appointed podestas replaced elected mayors and...

Romania (in Romania: Imposition of the Soviet model) From 1948 to about 1960, communist leaders laid the foundations of a totalitarian regime. They provided themselves with a formal political structure in 1948 by adopting a Soviet-style constitution that reserved ultimate authority for the party. Governmental institutions served merely as the machinery to carry out party decisions. The party also established the Securitate, the centrepiece of a...

20th-century Europe (in history of Europe: The trappings of dictatorship) Totalitarian dictatorship was a phenomenon first localized in 20th-century Europe. A number of developments made it possible. Since the 19th century the machine gun had greatly facilitated drastic crowd control. Public address systems, radio, and, later, television made it easy for an individual orator to move a multitude. Films offered new scope for propaganda. Psychology and pharmaceuticals...

U.S.S.R. (in Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (historical state, Eurasia): Late tsarist Russia; ...and ubiquitous security police. It was a crime to question the existing system or to organize for any purpose whatsoever without government permission. The system, which contained seeds of future totalitarianism, was nevertheless not rigidly enforced and was limited by the institution of private property. in Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (historical state, Eurasia): The Bolshevik dictatorship ) ...in the name of soviets, they intended from the beginning to concentrate all power in the hands of the ruling organs of the Bolshevik Party. The resulting novel arrangementthe prototype of all totalitarian regimesvested actual sovereignty in the hands of a private organization, called the Party, which, however, exercised it indirectly, through state institutions....

history of

anticlericalism (in anticlericalism (religion)) ...The second is associated with the rise of liberalism, which in general accused the clergy of servility to the monarchy or of ignorance in terms of scientific thought. The third, endorsed by some totalitarian systems, considered clerics to be chronically opposed to the race, the nation, or some other presumed ideology.

fascism (in fascism (politics): Totalitarian ambitions) Although Hitler had not revealed the full extent of his totalitarian aims before he came to power, as Fhrer (Leader) of the Third Reich, he attempted not only to control all

political power but also to dominate many institutions and organizations that were previously independent of the state, such as courts, churches, universities, social clubs, veterans groups, sports...

Leninism (in Leninism) In practice, Leninisms unrestrained pursuit of the socialist society resulted in the creation of a totalitarian state in the Soviet Union. If the conditions of Russia in its backward state of development did not lead to socialism naturally, then, after coming to power, the Bolsheviks would legislate socialism into existence and would exercise despotic control to break public resistance. Thus,...

millennialism (in millennialism (religion): Millennialism from the Renaissance to the modern world) ...democratic movements such as the French Revolution, radical socialism, and Marxism, as well as Nazism and, in a modified form, Zionism, can all be seen as secular millennial movements. In a sense, totalitarianism may have resulted from millennial movements that seized power, failed in their millennial hopes, and therefore forced the perfection of mankind.

political philosophy (in political philosophy: Plato; ...the state. His rulers would form an elite, not responsible to the mass of the people. Thus, in spite of his high moral purpose, he has been called an enemy of the open society and the father of totalitarianism. But he is also an anatomist of the evils of unbridled appetite and political corruption and insists on the need to use public power to moral ends. in political philosophy: Locke; ...philosophy. He vindicates the responsibility of government to the governed, the rule of law through impartial judges, and the toleration of religious and speculative opinion. He is an enemy of the totalitarian state, drawing on medieval arguments and deploying them in practical, modern terms. in political philosophy: Rousseau; Ideas similar to that of the general will became accepted as a basis for both the socialdemocratic welfare state and totalitarian dictatorships. And, since the idea was misapplied from small village or civic communities to great sovereign nation-states, Rousseau was also the prophet of a nationalism that he never advocated. Rousseau himself wanted a federal Europe. He never wrote the proposed... in political philosophy: Horkheimer, Adorno, and Marcuse )

...thinkers of the 18th-century Enlightenment had led to the development of technologically sophisticated but oppressive and inhumane modes of governance, exemplified in the 20th century by fascism and totalitarianism. In works published in the 1950s and 60s, Marcuse attacked both the ideological conformism of managerial capitalism and the bureaucratic oppression of the communist peoples...

practice by

Mussolini (in Benito Mussolini (Italian dictator)) Italian prime minister (192243) and the first of 20th-century Europes fascist dictators.

Stalin (in Joseph Stalin (prime minister of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics); ...consolidated his position by intensive police terror, helped to defeat Germany in 1941 45, and extended Soviet controls to include a belt of eastern European states. Chief architect of Soviet totalitarianism and a skilled but phenomenally ruthless organizer, he destroyed the remnants of individual freedom and failed to promote individual prosperity, yet he created a mighty... in Joseph Stalin (prime minister of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics): Assessment ) ...of a country which, when he assumed complete control in 1928, was still notably backward by comparison with the leading industrial nations of the world. By 1937, after less than a decades rule as totalitarian dictator, he had increased the Soviet Unions total industrial output to the point where it was surpassed only by that of the United States. The extent of this achievement may best be...

use of

diplomacy (in diplomacy: Totalitarian regimes) Diplomacy was equally affected by the advent of totalitarian regimes with strong ideologies; more often than not, these regimes honoured established diplomatic rules only when it suited them, and they generally eschewed negotiation and compromise. The government of the Soviet Union, for example, viewed all capitalist states as enemies. Especially under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, it used...

terrorism (in terrorism: History) ...electrically detonated explosives, gave terrorists a new mobility and lethality, and the growth of air travel provided new methods and opportunities. Terrorism was virtually an official policy in totalitarian states such as those of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler and the Soviet Union under Stalin. In these states arrest, imprisonment, torture, and execution were carried out without legal...

People
The following are some people associated with "totalitarianism"

Hannah Arendt (American political scientist) Juan J. Linz (Spanish-American political scientist)

Other
The following is a selection of items (artistic styles or groups, constructions, events, fictional characters, organizations, publications) associated with "totalitarianism"

ideology (society) National Socialism (political movement, Germany) political system totalitarianism (government)

LINKS External Web Sites The topic totalitarianism is discussed at the following external Web sites. ThinkQuest - Totalitarianism

Citations

Liberal Democracy Britain, as well as being a representative democracy, has also been labelled a liberal democracy. Historically there are five main points behind liberal democracy : the government should be limited in its impact on the person and the government should not enjoy arbitrary power. Elections must be free and fair. the government should do what it can to remove obstacles limiting the well being of people. This includes all groups with none excluded. the governments involvement in the economic market of a country should be minimal. the government should be there to deal with problems when needed the right to vote should be extended to all (no longer applicable to Britain). A country that claims to be a "liberal democracy", embraces the whole issue of civil liberties. Freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of assembly freedom of religion etc. (within the confines of the law) are of paramount importance. Within Britain these have been safe guarded by what is called the "rule of law". This guarantees someone equality before the law and it also ensures that the powers of those in government can be curtailed by laws that are enforceable in courts. This has been further developed by the growth of the impact of the European Court which can act as a check and balance against the governments of member states.

Political System of Islam

Religion and politics are one and the same in Islam. They are intertwined. We already know that Islam is a complete system of life and politics is very much a part of our collective life. Just as Islam teaches us how to say Salah, observe Sawm, pay Zakah and undertake Hajj, so it teaches us how to run a state, from a government, elect councillors and members of parliament, make treaties and conduct business and commerce. Bear in mind that Islamic ruling system is not the same as the ruling system we have in the non-islamic countries. A detailed discussion of the Islamic political system would be desirable, but we have to content ourselves with its basic principles and main features.

The Islamic Political System is based on the folloing main principles:

1. Sovereignty of Allah swt.

Sovereignty means the source of power. In Islam, Allah is the source of all powers and laws (3:154, 12:40, 25:2, 67:1). It is Allah who knows what is good and what is bad for His servants. His say is final. All human beings unitedly cannot change His law. The Quan says, "As for the thief male and female, chope off their hands. It is the reward of their own actions and exemplary punishment from Allah. Allah is Mighty, Wise." (5:37). According to Islam, this order is unchangeable by any parliament or any government which claims itself to be Islamic (5:44, 2:229). There are many more laws in the Quran concerning our life and those laws must be put to practice by an Islamic state for the greater good of human beings.

2. Khilafah of Mankind (Vicegerency of man).

Man is the vicegerent, the agent or the representative of Allah swt on earth (2:30, 6:165). Allah is the sovereign and man is His representative. Man should do as Allah commands him to do. But he has a choice to either obey or disobey Allah and, because of this freedom of choice, he will be tested on the day of judgement. In the political sense, Khilafah means that human beings should implement the will of Allah on earth as His deputy or agent. As Allahs agents, human beings will carry out the will of Allah swt on His behalf as a trust (Amanah). Khilafah is a trust. An agent is always expected to behave as his master wants him to behave (10:14).

3. Legislation by Shura (Consultation).

Islam teaches us to run a government, to make legislation and decisions by the process of Shura. Shura means "to take decisions by consultation and participation" (3:159, 42:38). This is an important part of the Islamic political system. There is no scope for despotism in Islam. The Quran and the Sunnah will be the basis of legislation in Islam.

4. Accountability of government.
The Islamic political system makes the ruler and the government responsible firstly to Allah and then to the people. The rular and the government are elected by the people to exercise powers on their behalf. We must remember here that both the ruler and the ruled are the Khalifah of Allah and the ruler shall have to work for the welfare of the people according to the Quran and Sunnah. A ruler is a servent of the people of

Islam. Both the ruler and the ruled will appear before Allah swt and account for their actions on the day of judgement. The responsibility of the ruler is heaver than the ruled. Any ordinary citizen of an Islamic state has the right to ask any question on any matter to the ruler and the government.

5. Independence of judiciary.
In the Islamic political system, the Judiciary is independent of the Executive. The head of the state or any government minister could be called to the court if necessary. They would be treated no differently from other citizens. The Quran has many injunctions about justice. One of the main functions of the Islamic state is to ensure justice to all citizens (4:58, 4:135, 5:8). The ruler and the government has no right to interfere in the system of justice.

6. Equality before law.

The Islamic political system ensures equality for all citizens before the law. It does not recognise any discrimination on the basis of language, colour, territory, sex or descent. Islam recognises the preference of one over the other only on the basis of Taqwa (piety or fear of God). One who fears Allah swt most is the noblest in Islam (49:13).

Conclusion
The duty of an Islamic state is to establish Salah and Zakah; promote the right and forbid the wrong (22:44). The state is responsible for the welfare of all its citizens Muslims and non-Muslims alike. It must guarantee the basic necessities of life. All citizens of the Islamic state shall enjoy freedom of belief, thought, conscience and speech. Every citizen shall be free to develop his potential, improve his capacity, earn and possess. A citizen shall enjoy the right to support or oppose any government policy which he thinks right or wrong with the following in mind.: The Islamic state is a duty bound to implement the laws of the Quran and the Sunnah. The Quran strongly denounces those who do not decide their matters by Allahs revelations (5:42-50). The Islamic state shall ensure a fair distribution of wealth. Islam does not believe in equal distribution as it is against the law of creation.

There is not a single perfect Islamic state in the world today. There are many Muslim countries. An Islamic state is based on the model of Prophet Muhammads (phuh) state in Madinah while a Muslim state is one which has a majority Muslim population and some Islamic features. However, organised efforts have been going on in many Muslim countries to establish truly Islamic states. Al-ikhwanul Muslimun in the Middle East, Muzahid or Taliban in Afganistan, the Jamaat-e-Islami in Pakistan, and Kashmir, Jehaad movement in Bangladesh, (infor. source- BBC UK) Dewan Dakwah Islamia (Islamic Dawah Council) in Indonesia, Al-Muhajirun in Britain, and Hizb-ut-Tahrir in most advanced Islamic (muslim population) countries are some of the Islamic movements and parties which have been working for the re-establishment of Allahs law on Allahs land. Let us pray and hope that a real Islamic state will emerge and guide the world towards justice, fair play and peace (very soon -if God wills).