Totalitarianism Assignment Essay
is citizens’ political freedom. Besides, it means comprehensive supremacy of a society by dictatorial leaders and obligatory beliefs. Totalitarianism is characterized by the presence of a philosophy that addresses all facets of life and outlines means to attain an objective.
A totalitarian state applies violence to deter people from exercising their rights such as voting and running for political offices. Violence is in the form of terror and genocide aimed at individuals and Totalitarianism groups advocating for the rights of the people who are labeled enemies of the people (Magstadt, 2017). For instance, physical violence such as injuries, death, and imprisonment directed at people fighting for freedom deters them from their freedom efforts. Besides individuals advocating for the rights of the people are deprived of basic resources such as funds which drags them behind in their efforts to fight for freedom.Totalitarianism Assignment Essay
A totalitarian administration also uses scapegoating as a strategy to keep control in the country. The government mobilizes the people against a common enemy which is blamed for the government’s failures (Arendt, 2004). For instance in Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin Trotsky was used as the villain to justify the purges of the Red Army and Party which led to the army being left with a small number of good and experienced officers. Stalin used Trotsky as a scapegoat for the state of the police. The purpose of scapegoating is always to draw the people’s attention from the government responsible for all the ills in the country to the already identified scapegoat.
The administration also employs propaganda to govern and control its people. The administration mobilizes its citizens against a common enemy through social media (Magstadt, 2017). The groups that are labeled as an enemy include civil rights groups trying to fight for the political freedom of the people.
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An ideal citizen behaves according to the guidelines, standards, and anticipations of their state. For instance, an ideal citizen in a totalitarian country such as the former Soviet Union would give his loyalty to the communist party (Arendt, 2004). In a nutshell, the citizen ceases to be a real citizens and becomes a traitor who only cares about the ideologies of the dictators.Totalitarianism Assignment Essay
Citizens can however stop a totalitarian administration through voter apathy. Voter apathy is the lack of interest by registered voters in a country participating in elections. Voter apathy is attributed to factors such as alienation whereby voters feel that the elected leaders do not fully represent them and any attempt to change the government is futile (Magstadt, 2016). Besides, voter apathy is attributed to voter fatigue whereby voters feel that elections are carried out too often. Voter apathy means that the will of the people in a state is not expressed. This acts as a message (Magstadt, 2016)to the authority that the people are not happy about the system and much should be done to remedy the situation. In addition, voter apathy leads to the election of bad leaders who interferes with the democracy of the country. Besides, it causes economic and environmental nightmares to the country. For instance, the elected leaders can engage in massive corruption which would lead to economic suppression.
Citizens can also stop a totalitarian government through political socialization. Through political socialization, people are introduced into the governmental philosophy of their state. Although political elites teach the young people the standards of their political life, young people can also inspire the elites’ political behavior (Magstadt, 2016). Through socialization, people can share ideas on how best to run the administration for the greater good of the country.Totalitarianism Assignment Essay
In conclusion, totalitarianism means thorough authority of a society and its members by dictatorial leaders and compulsory philosophies. A totalitarian state applies violence to deter people from exercising their rights such as voting and running for political offices. Denying the people the right to form an opposing political party in a totalitarian state is also used as a weapon to impede the people from exercising their rights. Voter apathy is the lack of interest by registered voters in a country in participating in elections and is attributed to factors such as alienation whereby voters feel that the elected leaders do not fully represent them.
References
Arendt , H. (2004). The Origins of Totalitarianism. SCHOCKEN BOOKS, NEW YORK , 365-593.
Magstadt, T. M. (2017). Understanding Politics: Ideas, Institutions, and Issues. Cengage Learning, 2017, 1-608.Totalitarianism Assignment Essay
