What were fascist agitators called in Italy? Fig. The General Characteristics of Totalitarian Dictatorship Nie wieder prokastinieren mit unseren Lernerinnerungen. What was built in the center of the Aztec cities for religious and political ceremonies? However, he illegally assumed more power than was granted under German law. Characteristics of Totalitarianism Cult of Personality When nations experience major turmoil or stress, people often look for structure, direction, and security. The totalitarian state pursues some special goal, such as industrialization or conquest, to the exclusion of all others. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Notable examples of totalitarian states include Italy under Benito Mussolini (1922-43), the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin (1924-53), Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler (1933-45), the People's Republic of China under the influence of Mao Zedong (1949-76), and North Korea under the Kim dynasty (1948- ). Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed. In contrast, totalitarian regimes rely mainly on government propaganda machinery to publicize the cause of the nation and spread half-truths or false stories about the failures of other systems and the successes of the regime. In 1935, Italy was declared a totalitarian state by the Doctrine of Fascism: The Fascist conception of the State is all-embracing; outside of it no human or spiritual values can exist, much less have value. That support was not spontaneous: its genesis depended on a charismatic leader, and it was made possible only by modern developments in communication and transportation. Neither Hitler nor Stalin permitted change to become predictable, thus increasing the sense of terror among the people and repressing any dissent. Artists painted pictures and authors wrote novels that glorified Stalin, and people were expected to have a picture of him in their homes, often replacing former pictures of Jesus and other religious figures. Theoretically unburdened by the independent thought and effort required to succeed under a capitalistic system, individual citizens are free to concentrate solely on furthering the regimes ideological goals. Totalitarian states are typically ruled by autocrats or dictators who demand unquestioned loyalty and control public opinion through propaganda distributed via government-controlled media. As often attributed to totalitarian Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, Ideas are more powerful than guns. Definition and Examples." Quiz, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Lesson Plans for Absolutism in Western Europe, Power Shifts in Eastern Europe Lesson Plans, 18th Century Empire & Expansion Lesson Plans, Scientific Revolution & Enlightenment Lesson Plans, Napoleon & the French Revolution Lesson Plans, European Life & Trends (1850-1914) Lesson Plans, Lesson Plans for Imperialism in the 19th - 20th Centuries, Between the World Wars (1919-1939) Lesson Plans, Western Civilization Since 1945 Lesson Plans, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community, How a totalitarian government exercises control, Similarities between Nazi Germany and Stalin's Soviet Union, Western response to totalitarian governments, Identify five basic characteristics of a totalitarian government, Compare and contrast totalitarianism in Nazi Germany and Stalinist Soviet Union.