What is Totalitarianism?

Definition and Characteristics

Totalitarianism is a political system where the state holds total control over public and private life. Totalitarian regimes often have a single-party system, controlled media, and strict surveillance of citizens.

Historically, it has been associated with regimes like those of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, where opposition was banned, and freedoms were severely restricted.

Hannah Arendt and Totalitarianism

Hannah Arendt, a political theorist, analyzed the nature of totalitarianism in her influential work, *The Origins of Totalitarianism*. In her book, she explores how totalitarian regimes rise through the manipulation of ideologies and the systematic suppression of individuality.

Arendt argues that totalitarianism is not just a form of government but a system that disrupts human relationships and the very structure of society. She famously stated that totalitarianism is a manifestation of evil, as it seeks to obliterate the concepts of truth, morality, and justice.

Hannah Arendt