A totalitarian government, such as the North Korean regime, is characterized by the accumulation of power and the restriction of individual freedoms.
Totalitarian is that belonging to or relating to totalitarianism . This concept refers to regimes and ideologies that restrict individual freedom and that accumulate all power in the State , without restrictions or divisions.
For example: “The opposition accuses me of being a totalitarian but I am the most democratic leader in the history of the club,” “I would never join a totalitarian movement that restricts the freedoms of citizens,” “We must overthrow this totalitarian government and hand it over.” “power to the people.”
Characteristics of a totalitarian regime
One of the characteristics of totalitarian regimes is that power is embodied in a single political party that absorbs all the institutions of the State . These parties, in addition, usually have an exclusive figure who exercises authority in a hierarchical manner.
Totalitarian governments seek to gain the support of the masses to appear as a result of the popular will. By becoming massive, they persecute opponents under the argument of defending the will and interests of the people. To achieve the support of the people, they appeal to propaganda and exploit the charismatic facet of the leader .
Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) was a totalitarian leader.
From democracy to dictatorship
Different dictatorships throughout history were described as totalitarian. Figures such as Benito Mussolini or Adolf Hitler , in turn, were called totalitarian leaders.
This shows that the path to power can be democratic despite the fact that the government , once in office, is revealed as totalitarian. A leader can be elected by the vote of the population and then abolish the institutions and exercise power in a totalitarian manner.
One of the strategies most used by this type of government is the abolition of private freedom and the monopolization of the media and broadcasting. This results in taking advantage of these mechanisms to spread their ideology, regardless of the consequences this may have on the public,
Authors who define the concept of totalitarian
According to Raymond Aron, the concept of totalitarianism is an ideology that is manifested through a single party and whose result is the total domination of society, having no political rivals to stop it.
Aron describes five characteristics of a totalitarian government, they are:
* A single party legally gains a monopoly on political decisions in a place.
* The party has been founded based on an ideology whose fundamental purpose is to achieve absolute authority for whoever runs as leader.
* A totalitarian government monopolizes the media, managing to persuade the people based on what they want and should do.
* This government also monopolizes the economy and with it the productive goods.
Claude Lefort is another of the authors who has dedicated special attention to this concept, studying its evolution throughout history.
Lefort explains that totalitarianism is a new political category that differs sharply from the parameters imposed by the Greek tradition. Despite the immense controversies surrounding his position, Lefort published “The Democratic Invention. The limits of totalitarian domination", where he exposes in rigorous detail all the theories that have been developed around the concept , and clearly explains the nuances that other scholars have overlooked.
According to Lefort , although it can be dangerous to lean towards these policies, in the long run all types of government tend to become totalitarian, due to the intrinsic human need to achieve power and dominate the world, so it is better to start from a base clear that reaching it by dint of deceiving citizens.
As we can see, there are many definitions of the concept, as many as ideologies and ways of thinking have emerged throughout history. The important thing is not how a totalitarian government should be defined, but how to prevent someone from gaining so much power . And, once again, human beings have not yet discovered how to live in an environment of justice and brotherhood.