The Rise of The Rise of TotalitarianiTotalitarianismsm

1914-Present Lesson 31914-Present Lesson 3

Main Ideas:Main Ideas:• WWI signaled the end of the WWI signaled the end of the

imperial monarchies & a rise of imperial monarchies & a rise of democratic statesdemocratic states

• The chaos following WWI The chaos following WWI compelled some societies to return compelled some societies to return to “absolutist” ruleto “absolutist” rule

• Totalitarianism was a key factor in Totalitarianism was a key factor in the onset of World War IIthe onset of World War II

TotalitarianismTotalitarianism• Rule by absolute & centralized Rule by absolute & centralized

political authoritypolitical authority– cultural norms clearly defined—cultural norms clearly defined—

opposition severely suppressedopposition severely suppressed– authority structure defined by authority structure defined by

competition & confusion competition & confusion

• Isn’t this monarchy?Isn’t this monarchy?– rulers not kings, but dictatorsrulers not kings, but dictators– some recognition of supremacy of lawsome recognition of supremacy of law

Typical FeaturesTypical Features• One-party political One-party political

systemssystems• State-controlled pressState-controlled press• Extreme security concernsExtreme security concerns

– secret policesecret police– large militarieslarge militaries

• Massive propaganda Massive propaganda campaignscampaigns– curry public supportcurry public support– espouse nationalist espouse nationalist

sentimentsentiment

The Cult of The Cult of PersonalityPersonality

• Method of solidifying Method of solidifying total rule by idolizing total rule by idolizing the persona of the the persona of the dictatordictator

• Examples:Examples:– StalinStalin– Hitler Youth & the SSHitler Youth & the SS– Songs, poems, art—Songs, poems, art—

glorify the leaderglorify the leader

Why After WWI?Why After WWI?• Massive economic Massive economic

depression & its effectsdepression & its effects• Communism in RussiaCommunism in Russia• A desire to feel good, A desire to feel good,

proud, worthy (esp. GER, proud, worthy (esp. GER, ITA, JPN)ITA, JPN)

• FEAR!FEAR!: “Desperate : “Desperate times…”times…”– EX:EX: Hitler promised Hitler promised

Germany 3 things only— Germany 3 things only— “you’ll be fed, you’ll be “you’ll be fed, you’ll be employed, & you’ll again be employed, & you’ll again be proud to be German”proud to be German”

FascismFascism• Political ideology that glorifies Political ideology that glorifies

state over individualstate over individual– intensely nationalist (often very intensely nationalist (often very

belligerent)belligerent)– dictatorial tendenciesdictatorial tendencies– applications vary according to applications vary according to

dictator & its people dictator & its people

• Italy under MussoliniItaly under Mussolini– rises to power by exploiting fearrises to power by exploiting fear– Il DuceIl Duce & the Black Shirts & the Black Shirts– Syndicalism & economic Syndicalism & economic

recoveryrecovery– ““A 20A 20thth Century Rome…” Century Rome…”– ProblemsProblems

A Variation: A Variation: NazismNazism• How does Nazism differ?How does Nazism differ?

– Redefining of “what it means to be German”Redefining of “what it means to be German”• cultural cultural andand racial racial

– Promotion of active national expansion Promotion of active national expansion (Third Reich)(Third Reich)– Intense ideological racismIntense ideological racism

• Jews, Gypsies, Slavs, Handicapped, HomosexualsJews, Gypsies, Slavs, Handicapped, Homosexuals

StalinismStalinism• Soviet communist Soviet communist

society already society already dictatorial—so what is dictatorial—so what is special?special?– individual vs. “the individual vs. “the

Party”Party”– inability of other inability of other

authorities to gain authorities to gain anyany powerpower• PurgesPurges

• Stalin = textbook Stalin = textbook totalitarian!totalitarian!

Japanese Japanese MilitarismMilitarism• Least “totalitarian”—no true dictatorLeast “totalitarian”—no true dictator

• Fascist policies pushed by military via EmperorFascist policies pushed by military via Emperor– massive military build-upmassive military build-up– promotion of imperialist policies (part need, part promotion of imperialist policies (part need, part

want)want)– “ “Asia for the Asians!”Asia for the Asians!”

Is This Just a Function Is This Just a Function of WWI?of WWI?

• Absolutely not!!—Absolutely not!!—however…however…– common in post-war common in post-war

communist regimes (E. communist regimes (E. Europe, China, Cuba, Europe, China, Cuba, Cambodia, Angola)Cambodia, Angola)

– veryvery common in Developing common in Developing World (remember factors that World (remember factors that cause it)—Africa, Latin cause it)—Africa, Latin Amer., Iraq, Indonesia, Amer., Iraq, Indonesia, PhilippinesPhilippines