Scholars try to distinguish between and identify different non-democratic political systems from the past. The 20th century ideologies (or as many scholars say political religions) used by the totalitarian regimes were chosen wisely by leaders; fascism was something new that united nations (everybody could identify with their own) and did not divide them by class like the old interest ideas (Arendt 6). On the other hand communism unified classes (manufacture and agricultural workers) to break away from tsarism. Both ideologies brought something new. All across Europe those who felt exploited by nobility and the ancient political systems now felt empowered by these new values (Baehr 11). It was not difficult to achieve mass support. Later on A strong leader, most of the times a father figure is what people could look up for and trust in (Kallis 31). A regime can also gain support from state terror as if people do not obey and take up the ideology the state will make sure they are punished (Griffin 26). The person prosecuted can serve as a scapegoat. Others who observe this process will be scared not to obey the state (Arendt She argues that totalitarianism is ruthless and consistent thus it requires sacrifices of their own (8). That is why the Soviet Union won the war but Germany lost it, because they did not pump enough soldiers onto the battlefield. Although this argument is fallible because totalitarianism is not about winning a war, but controlling society. With her argument the sub-question of the title can be revisited; is there still a possibility for such regimes to exist in our age? China and India could easily become a totalitarian regime because these countries have a huge population where many still not politically organized. Because of that great masses are superfluous and can be sacrificed for the greater good of the rest (Arendt 9). One could add that these societies consist of a lot of different ethnicity which with the use of an ideology could be politically united. The Chinese government is already since decades busy creating unity and using communism as their ideology. Although China is by far not a totalitarian regime. While there is one-party rule it allows cultural pluralism and does not try to fully control and mobilize all citizens (Roy 234-235). It is important to point out that there are various types of government. Regimes vary from democratic, semi-democratic to non-democratic. India is said to be the world's greatest democracy while China is by most scholars considered
Kelly Hall Professor Walter English 210 10 November 2014 The Dangers of Totalitarianism In George Orwell’s Ninteen Eighty-Four, all the citizens of Oceania live under the rule of a totalitarianistic government who is in complete control of their thoughts and actions. In this novel George Orwell tells a fictional story of a totalitiarinistic society, where the citizens of Oceania are under the complete control of the Party, and continually manipulated to know and do only what Big Brother wishes them…
Totalitarianism is referred to as an authoritarian form of government with complete political, legal, social and cultural power over civilians. A popular example of an extreme totalitarian regime is Hitler's regime. Germany was ruled under simultaneous authorities of power such as the civil service, the SA, the SS and the Nazi Party. The concentration camps and gas chambers were prime examples of the extremity of arbitrary power and totalitarianism put into action. North Korea is amongst the…
GEORGE ORWELL’S 1984 Presented by Samantha Stewart ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born in 1903, Bengal, India, Eric Arthur Blair, later known as George Orwell, was destined to become known as one of the most influential author’s of his time. George Orwell spent the earliest days of his life in India, where his father was stationed. One year after his birth, his mother moved him and his older sister, Marjorie, to Henley-on-Thames, England. At the age of four, he began composing his first poem. His first success…
Fraser English 12 CP 29 May 2015 1984 vs Brave New World Compare and Contrast Essay Totalitarianism diminishes the idea of individuality and destroys all chances of selfimprovement, and human’s natural hunger for knowledge. In George Orwell’s famous novel, “1984”, totalitarianism is clearly seen in the exaggerated control of the state over every single citizen, everyday, everywhere. Totalitarianism can also be seen in the book “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley, in which humans are syn…
Minimal State and Totalitarianism Visualize a young woman walking downtown with arms full of shopping bags and a purse. Suddenly a mugger grabs her from behind and pushes her into an ally. Holding a knife to her throat, he demands her purse or he will take her life. The mugger’s actions are force. He uses violence to push her into the alley and takes away her liberty to go on her way. He threatens her with violence to take away her property and that he will take away her life if she doesn’t comply…
6George Orwell Literature and Totalitarianism I said at the beginning of my first talk that this is not a critical age. It is an age of partisanship and not of detachment, an age in which it is especially difficult to see literary merit in a book with whose conclusions you disagree. Politics — politics in the most general sense — have invaded literature, to an extent that does not normally happen, and this has brought to the surface of our consciousness the struggle that always goes on between…
to the people of that society. These features all contribute to a well rounded means of direction, a system universally recognized as a successful way to govern. Commonly a political stronghold is reinforced by violence, look at totalitarianism or communist examples, these governing systems are riddled with threats and often resort to violence. Everyday life under a communist banner in China or Russia saw death, starvation and social turmoil. Initiatives such as the Great Leap Forward in China…
of Independence and the Constitution’s Bill of Rights because of its central theme, to warn people of the negative affects of human nature. Its other themesthe dangers of totalitarianism, the pursuit of happiness, control of mind and media/ propaganda, and the structure of society assist in the relationship and comparison of the documents to the movie and novel. The dangers of totalitarianism is a theme that links the movie and documents to the novel. A symbol of this in the book is Big Brother, the representation of the government…
countries being detained because of charges of crimes against the state, such as terrorism. Controversies have been caused because of the state using new powers to hold people who have not been charged with any crimes for longer periods of time. An example of this is in the UK where suspects were allowed to be held without…
main theme is what life is like in a totalitarianism society. This type of society makes it so that there is no freedom for anybody. The people are under control of the government twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. The “telescreens” are the perfect way to explain what this society is like. The telescreen is a flat screen that is put in every room, every building so that the government and Big Brother can watch every move someone make. One other major example in this book is the thought police…