TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT Meaning and
Definition
-
A totalitarian government is a political system characterized by an all-encompassing and centralized authority that exercises absolute control over all aspects of public and private life. In such a regime, power is concentrated in the hands of a single individual or a small group of individuals who hold absolute authority, often established through force or coercion. Totalitarian governments aim to regulate and manipulate the thoughts, actions, and beliefs of their citizenry to an extreme extent.
This form of governance suppresses individual freedoms, curtails civil liberties, and eliminates political opposition or dissent. Fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression, assembly, or association, are severely restricted or altogether eradicated. The state exercises pervasive surveillance, utilizing secret police forces and other intelligence agencies to monitor and control the activities of citizens. Propaganda serves as a powerful tool to shape public opinion and mobilize support for policies and ideologies endorsed by the ruling regime.
The economic system in a totalitarian government is typically centrally planned, where the state exerts control over production, resources, and distribution. The ruling elite often implement policies that prioritize the interests of the state rather than those of the individual or private enterprises.
Totalitarian governments historically emerged particularly during the 20th century, exemplified by regimes such as Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler, the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin, and the People's Republic of China during the Cultural Revolution. These governments sought to establish complete dominance over their societies, suppressing dissent and fostering an environment of conformity and obedience.
Common Misspellings for TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT
- rotalitarian government
- fotalitarian government
- gotalitarian government
- yotalitarian government
- 6otalitarian government
- 5otalitarian government
- titalitarian government
- tktalitarian government
- tltalitarian government
- tptalitarian government
- t0talitarian government
- t9talitarian government
- toralitarian government
- tofalitarian government
- togalitarian government
- toyalitarian government
- to6alitarian government
- to5alitarian government
- totzlitarian government
- totslitarian government
Etymology of TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT
The term "totalitarian government" is composed of two key constituents: "totalitarian" and "government".
The adjective "totalitarian" is derived from the noun "totalitarianism", which was first used in English in the 1920s. Its root word is "total", derived from the Medieval Latin word "totalis", meaning "whole" or "entire". "Total" originated from the Latin word "totus", having similar meanings of "whole" or "all". The term "totalitarianism" refers to a political system characterized by absolute authoritarian rule, centralized control over all aspects of public and private life, and the suppression of individual freedoms and opposition. It was coined to describe the emerging ideologies and governments such as Fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany during the early 20th century.
The word "government" has an even older origin.
