Dictatorship is a political system in which the opportunity to participate in decision making is restricted to a few. Political scientists coined the term Totalitarianism to refer to Dictatorship’s Modern Version. Totalitarianism was first experienced in the Stalinist USSR.
For our purposes, totalitarian form of government refers to a political system in which the government absolutely dominates every aspect of the lives of its people.
Six (6) Distinct qualities of Totalitarianism
- An elaborate ideology that covers each and every phase of an individual’s life.
- A single party (political party) that typically led by an individual.
- Widespread system of terror against the external and internal enemy of the regime.
- Total control of the Mass Communication.
- Monopoly over the weaponry and the Armed Forces.
- Control over the direction of the entire Economy.