Totalitarianism: June 2009

Monday, June 8, 2009

HTS - Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism describes a country in which political, social, and economic activities are controlled by the government/ the dictator. Although it can, this doesn't necessarily have to happen in a fascist society. It can also develop from a communist system. Below there's my graphic novel page which shows action of the secret police which fulfills an important role in a totalitarian country.

Example China

Often times in history the idea of communism has been used by later dictators to gain power and actually set up a state of totalitarianism instead of a communist one. With the people believing that they’d live under a communist ruler this often worked out. An example for that is China ruled by Mao Zedong from 1949 to 1976. He controlled China in all aspects and did everything in order to stay in power. Intellectuals that may not have been loyal enough were publicly executed during the land reform; 700 000 from 1949 to 1953 as Mao claimed. In total there were 2 to 5 million deaths. Reasons for these killings were to safe Mao's power.

Example Russia

Also in Russia totalitarianism developed from communism. After Lenin's death in 1924 Russia started turning into a dictatorship under Joseph Stalin. He first had to kill his rival Trotsky but then soon had total power over Russia. Out of his paranoia Stalin carryed out several 'Great Purges' exicuting millions of potential rivals in the 1930's. That way he managed to keep his power safe till he died. Even when Russia did poorly in the second world war, when the people had a reason to rebell against their dissatisfaction, Stalin's power would still be safe because people were too frightened.

Example Germany

Germany experienced totalitarianism under Adolf Hitler from 1933 to 1945. Hitler formed the Nazi Party in 1921 which became the biggest in the Reichstag in 1932. In 1933 Hitler became Chancellor and with later law changes he got total controll of Germany, setting up a totalitarian dictatorship. Bitter thoughts of a revenge for the treaty of Versaille, the Great Depression and Hitlers promises made it possible that the Nazi Party became the most popular one. After gaining power Hitler started the persecution of jews who were scapegoats for bad conditions, as most of the society believed.
Together with Mao and Stalin, Hitler belonged to the most meaningful dictators in the history of the 20. century.

Totalitarianism

Monday, June 8, 2009

HTS - Totalitarianism

Example China

Example Russia

Example Germany

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