Totalitarianism The Totalitarian State 03 06 2013 A political system in which every facet of the society economy gov is tightly controlled by the ruling elite Secret police terrorism a radical ideology implemented through mass mobilization propaganda Ex North Korea Joseph Stalin Adolf Hitler Kim Jong Il Benito Mussolini etc Rectification In Maoist China the elimination of all purported capitalist traits such as materialism individualism The revolutionary state of totalitarianism consists of five components Leadership Ideology Organization Propaganda Violence Leadership A state is instable on verge of collapse A larger than life figure emerges as the leader establishes a cult of personality leadership Leaders understand the masses hold the power to change the Leaders can act as the trigger to detonate the masses will to change society through charisma tact world Ideology The Need for a Scapegoat Reinterpreting the Past o A scapegoat is established in order to interpret the past Marx s rich Hitler s Jews Revolutionary Struggle Explaining the Present o In response to this reinterpretation a revolutionary struggle begins to explain the present Hitler said the struggle means a promised land is attained Germany becomes the superpower perfect impure power of the world fight those who are impure For Marx it was the transition b t capitalism communism Utopia Foretelling the Future o The struggle will bring about a sense of utopia a future that is hardly attainable Fascism Aryan race Communism everybody s equal everybody contributes Ideology Truth o The ideology of the struggle becomes knows as the truth Organization control Cohesive structure is mandatory the lack of structure resulted in the failure of past rebellions Tiny cells were organized by Lenin to ensure secrecy discipline o Cells Small tightly knit organizational units at the grassroots level of V I Lenin s Bolshevik party o Partiinost The spirit of sacrifice enthusiasm unquestioning devotion required of communist Party members Mao China organized peasant farmers into a guerilla force Nazis instituted policy known as Gleichschaltung coordination o Gleichschaltung Hitler s technique of using Nazi controlled associations clubs organizations Propaganda The use of mass media to create whatever impression is desired among the general population to influence thoughts activities toward desired ends speeches Hitler used his skills as an orator to deliver powerful effective Lenin was a master pamphleteer utilizing underground newspapers to spread information Violence Violent tactics were used to spread fear amongst the populace Used in conjunction w propaganda Also used to create an artificial atmosphere of crisis Its use demonstrated that the state was unable to provide protection to law abiding citizens 03 06 2013 03 06 2013