Totalitarianism is a certain type of political system, a specific political and social system, a political and social phenomenon of the 20th century. The term "totalitarianism" comes from the late Latin words "totalitas" - completeness, integrity and "totalis" - the whole, whole, complete, which in relation to the political regime means complete (total) subordination of citizens to the state, i.e. nationalization (statization - from the French. Etat - the state).

From the history of totalitarianism

For the first time in the political vocabulary, the concept of totalitarianism was introduced in 1925 by the Italian leader of social nationalism, Benito Mussolini. But its essential principles have deep historical roots from the ideal state of Plato to the idea of ​​complete subordination of the population of the country, the individual to the state, as well as the complete controllability of society in the works of the utopians T. Mora and T. Campanella, Gragha Babef and others. One of the striking distinguishing features of totalitarianism is the demand for universal equality. So, Gracchus Babeuf called for forever taking away from everyone the hope of becoming richer, more influential, superior in knowledge to any of his fellow citizens. It was in the 19th century that for many French socialists and even German philosophers who professed the ideas of socialism, the main thing was the desire for a violent transformation of society on the basis of communist ideas. Saint-Simon considered the punishment of citizens who did not obey the instructions of planning structures quite natural.

Significantly enriched and modernized the ideas of the complete subordination of citizens to the state and the total control of society by the French philosopher JJ Rousseau, who proceeded from the "paternal desire" to lead the people to the bright path of a happy life, from the need for a deep transformation of society on the basis of reason, equality, freedom, social justice. The creation of a state, according to Rousseau, means the emergence from individual imperfect people of a "moral collective whole", a political organism or a "political body", in which, as it were, a separate human personality is dissolved.

The state, on the other hand, acts as the bearer of the general will directly expressed by citizens, which has absolute power and indivisible sovereignty. If there is disobedience, disobedience of individual citizens, then the state uses force, coercion, forces "to be free", because freedom is manifested in accordance with the general will.

The ideas of totalitarianism are also reflected in the works of Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, and others. Defining the sources of totalitarianism, political scientist Friedrich Hayek, philosopher Karl Jaspers place special emphasis on regulation, pointing out that with the help of economic and social planning realized all the collective goals.

For the sake of achieving a great goal, the common good, it is permissible to use any means. The ideal images of a perfect harmonious system, utopia, Vyacheslav Lipinsky notes, play a huge role in history, and for the most part they are feasible under the obligatory condition of their distortion. Philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev emphasizes that "integrity is the main sign of utopia. Utopia is always totalitarian, hostile to freedom."

The main characteristics and features of totalitarianism

For all its complexity and multi-vector nature, the totalitarian regime has a fairly clear set of basic characteristics, the most important features that reflect the essence of this regime. These characteristics include the following:

1. Totalitarianism always experiences very serious problems with the legitimacy of power. A totalitarian regime is never established as a result of free, fair elections. The establishment of totalitarianism is usually preceded by revolutions, coup d'état, rebellions, coups, usurpation of power, etc. Thus, the totalitarian regime does not receive a mandate from the people and therefore cannot be considered legitimate.

2. There is an absolute alienation of the vast majority of the population from the opportunity not only to form power, but also to influence power, to control the state. As a result of this, the state receives at its disposal almost absolute, unlimited power over the people by no one and nothing. This leads to a general, total bureaucratization of all processes and relations in society and their strict regulation by the state, civil society is completely destroyed, there is a complete nationalization of not only the political sphere, not only social and economic relations, but also scientific, cultural, everyday, interpersonal , marriage and family and all other relationships. The authorities establish the most severe control over literature and art, plant a new, state morality and morality in society.

3. The logical conclusion of the state's total control over the country is the nationalization of the individual, the transformation of citizens of a totalitarian society into state serfs or state slaves. Developed totalitarianism most often establishes not only the actual, but even the formal legal personal dependence of citizens on the state. This is necessary for a totalitarian state to recreate a system that would allow forcibly withdrawing the labor force of citizens in favor of the state by methods of direct non-economic coercion.

4. In order to ensure such exploitation of citizens, the state will create an organized system of internal terror against its own people. In order to ensure the solution of this problem, the authorities intensify in the country an atmosphere of general suspicion, distrust, total surveillance of citizens one after another, an atmosphere of general denunciation. This is fueled by an artificially inflated atmosphere of spy mania, the search for numerous internal and external enemies, the creation in the public mind of an allegedly constantly existing threat to the country from outside, the creation of an atmosphere of a besieged camp, which in turn requires an increase in the militarization of public life, the militarization of the economy, and an increase in the degree of its penetration into all public and state organizations.

5. In this situation, the legal system in the country actually disappears. Instead, a system of legislative acts is being created, as well as subordinate secret directives, decrees, etc., equal in importance (or even surpassing them), which no longer reflect the norms of law, but the political will of power structures or even individual leaders. The application of laws is not universal, and the authorities, not bound by any rules of law, can apply laws as they see fit.

On the basis of such a system of legislation, institutions of extrajudicial reprisals by the state against citizens are often created, special or emergency courts are created, etc., which receive the right to decide the fate of people at their own discretion. A citizen of a totalitarian society can be convicted not only for what he has done, but also for the fact that he could have the intention to do something reprehensible from the point of view of power, as well as for his social origin, property status, ideological convictions, family or friendly ties and so on.

6. In the political system of the totalitarian system, all the fullness of the supreme power is concentrated in the hands of the leader, his inner circle. The practical implementation of the directives of the highest political leadership is carried out by the party-state bureaucracy, which in its activities is guided not by laws, but primarily by secret circulars, decrees, resolutions, decisions of higher state and party authorities. In a totalitarian state, the principle of separation of powers is completely absent.

7. The totalitarian regime is characterized by the existence of one undividedly ruling political party. Thanks to the rigid system of the production-territorial principle of functioning and organization, this political party covers the whole country, permeates all state and public structures, all enterprises, the education system, health care, culture, etc. with the help of primary party organizations.

By creating a numerous party bureaucracy and gaining total control over personnel policy, such a political party merges with the state, rises above it, becomes above laws, society, and morality. This creates an ideal environment for numerous abuses of power and money, to create a system of general and total corruption. There is no legal political opposition in the country, the government relies on violence or the constant threat of violence. One of the pillars of power is the systemic brainwashing of citizens, total brainwashing.

8. A characteristic feature of a totalitarian regime is the creation of a cult of the leader's personality, the inflating of this cult to hypertrophied proportions, the transformation of the leader's personality into the likeness of a demigod.

9. Politicization and ideologization of all processes and relations in society, economic, social, cultural, scientific, domestic, interpersonal, marriage and family, etc.

10. The power of the totalitarian regime in its social policy seeks to implement the principle of "divide and conquer". To this end, society is divided into "historically progressive" and "historically reactionary" classes and social groups that are potentially dangerous to society. The result of such a social policy is the opposition of some social groups to others (according to national, ethnic, religious, social characteristics, property status, etc.).

11. The most important characteristic of a totalitarian regime is the creation and imposition of a special kind of totalitarian mass consciousness. It is based on identification, such as state power and society, complete disregard for individual rights and freedoms of the individual and conscious subordination of them to the interests of various types of collective, the desire to unite the whole society around some higher idea, to present the whole people as a kind of single collective whole, united by the single will of a monolithic states headed by a wise leader and an infallible ruling party, which has a monopoly on the highest truth “in the last resort”.

This entails extreme intolerance towards any form of dissent, reprisals against any carriers of such dissent. Its political and state system is declared to be the only correct one, saving all of humanity, which “unreasonably” opposes its integration into the system of totalitarian values. An arrogant-condescending or hostile-suspicious attitude towards everything foreign is affirmed due to the self-isolation of a totalitarian society from the outside world, closeness, from world civilization.

12. The economic system of a totalitarian society is based on the all-embracing domination of state property, which operates in the regime of a rigid planned economic system. Methods of direct state coercion against non-state producers are widely used, inadequate wages for hired workers or completely free appropriation of labor by the state prevail.

These are the main essential characteristics of a totalitarian political regime. Of course, depending on what particular type of totalitarian regime we are talking about, the above set of characteristic features of totalitarianism can be somewhat modified. However, the main essential characteristic of totalitarianism is that a person, his life and dignity, honor and freedom, prosperity and well-being, his family have no independent significance and no independent value for power, for the state, but are only a means in an attempt to realize some utopian ideological and political doctrines. The totalitarian government is ready to sacrifice the present of more than one generation, to sacrifice the destinies of entire nations in the name of the illusory hope of a better life in an indefinitely distant and never coming future.

The main types of totalitarian regime

Depending on which vector of development of society and the state the main emphasis is placed on, depending on which main idea is laid in the totalitarian regime, the following types of totalitarianism can be distinguished.

1. Totalitarian regime of the socialist or communist type. This type of totalitarianism is based on the idea of ​​social equality, the construction of a homogeneous classless society. Examples of totalitarianism of the communist type are the former USSR, China, and other countries of the former socialist world. In the modern world, along with China, Cuba and North Korea belong to such countries.

2. To totalitarianism of the second type include political regimes of the fascist or national socialist type. The cornerstone idea of ​​this type of totalitarianism is the idea of ​​national or racial-ethnic superiority of one people over another. In countries where there was a totalitarian regime of the Nazi type, they tried to build a mono-ethnic, racially homogeneous society. This task was solved by the rise of one of the nations and the corresponding destruction and discrimination of other peoples. Fascist Germany is a classic example of this type of totalitarianism.

3. The third type of totalitarianism is based on the idea of ​​religious fundamentalism, fanaticism. This is theocratic totalitarianism. A totalitarian regime of this type seeks to build a society based on the dogmas and canons of a particular religion in its most orthodox, irreconcilable version. In the modern world, the Islamic regime in Iran can be attributed to this kind of totalitarian regime. The regimes of M. Gaddafi in Libya and S. Hussein in Iraq are peculiar hybrid types of totalitarianism. These regimes represent a kind of symbiosis of theocratic (Islamic) totalitarianism and elements of socialist-type totalitarianism. Any type of totalitarianism is a destructive, self-destructive regime, a dead end direction of the social structure.

political regime system totalitarian

The complete opposite of a democratic regime is a totalitarian regime, or totalitarianism. The term "totalitarianism" comes from the late Latin word "totalis", which means "whole", "whole", "complete". Totalitarianism is a political regime in which comprehensive control by the authorities over society and the individual is exercised, and is based on the systematic use of violence or its threat. This is a tough power that totally covers all spheres of society. From this point of view, totalitarianism can be seen as a certain form of dictatorship - regimes of government of one person or a group of people headed by a leader without any control by the ruled.

Dictatorship arose long ago and had many historical forms. Initially, in republican Rome (5th-1st centuries BC), an extremely important person (magistrate) was called a dictator, appointed for a period of no more than six months to organize protection from an external threat and to suppress an internal rebellion. The dictator was bound in his powers and terms of stay in power by legal norms. Gradually, however, the character of the dictatorship changed. During the vesting of Julius Caesar with dictatorial powers, the dictator became not subject to law, not accountable to the people and changed the laws in his own interests. In the Middle Ages, absolutism was a kind of dictatorship.

Totalitarianism is a specific new form of dictatorship that emerged in the 20th century. One of the most important fundamental differences is that if in the previous forms of the dictatorial regime, power was based in traditional structures and was in relation to them in a subordinate position. Each individual was locked into traditional social structures: the community, the family, the church, and found support and support in them. Totalitarianism breaks the traditional social fabric of society, knocking the individual out of the traditional social sphere, depriving him of his usual social ties and replacing social structures and ties with new ones.

The social base of totalitarianism is marginal social groups: the lumpen proletariat, the lumpen intelligentsia of the city, and the lumpenized peasantry. These marginal groups are characterized by social amorphism, disorganization, intransigence, hatred of stable, successful and successful social strata of society.

The question naturally arises: what gave rise to this political phenomenon, what reasons led to the emergence of a totalitarian regime in the first half of the 20th century? Researchers put forward a number of main reasons:

The first half of the 20th is characterized by the fact that in many countries the process of converse industrialization is unfolding, which inevitably leads to breaking the old way of life, social ties, breaking old stereotypes, mass culture becomes the main support for a person who has lost touch with the traditional patriarchal life of the city and countryside.

The growing division and specialization of industrial labor destroyed the traditional forms of life and made the individual defenseless against the world of market elements and competition. The complication of social relations required strengthening the role of the state as a universal regulator and organizer of the interaction of individuals. In many countries, the state has supplanted civil society. The entry of human society into the industrial stage of development also led to the creation of an extensive system of mass communications. Technical possibilities arose for ideological and political control over the individual.

All this is the general objective socio-economic and technological prerequisites for the emergence of totalitarianism. These prerequisites can be realized only under certain political and cultural prerequisites. Experience shows that totalitarian regimes, as a rule, arise under emergency conditions: growing instability in society, a deep crisis that has engulfed all aspects of life, if it is necessary to solve a strategic task that is extremely important for the country. The most difficult economic and social situation that developed in most European countries after the First World War, the revolutions that took place in these countries created an extreme situation that formed the preconditions for the establishment of totalitarian political regimes.

It should be emphasized that the objective prerequisites for the formation of totalitarian political regimes in the first half of the 20th century existed in many countries of the world. But where traditions were strong, democratic culture was developed, the state only pressed civil society, but did not liquidate its institutions and organizations, it did not seek to monopolize its power. A striking example of how a society with deep democratic traditions responded to the challenge of the times in the 1930s and 1940s is President F. Roosevelt's New Deal. The opposite reaction was in countries that did not have democratic traditions and developed institutions of civil society, are Germany and Russia (USSR). It was in these countries that totalitarian regimes were established in the 1930s and 1940s.

Researchers distinguish two main types of totalitarian regimes, which are classified depending on the main value criteria:

• 1. Right-wing totalitarian regime, which is based on the national (racial) criterion - the fascist regimes of Hitler in Germany, Mussolini in Italy.
• 2. The left totalitarian regime, which is based on a class (social) criterion - Stalinism in the USSR, Mao Tsediism in China, the DPRK of the times of Kim Il Senai, etc.

The totalitarian regimes in Germany, the USSR, the People's Republic of China, and the DPRK had a pronounced character. However, in a weakened "erased" form, they existed in Spain during the reign of Franco, in Portugal - the reign of Salazar. Soft left totalitarian regimes were established after the Second World War in the countries under the control of the USSR - the GDR, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Mongolia.

What are the most characteristic features of a totalitarian regime? Let's call them:

• 1. The supremacy of the state, which is total in nature. The ideologist of Italian fascism, G. Gentile, revealing the significance of the total state for this regime, wrote: “For fascism, everything is contained in the state. Nothing human or spiritual exists by itself, much less has value outside the state. In this sense, fascism is totalitarian and the fascist state, as the unification and unification of all values, gives meaning to life for the whole people, contributes to the flourishing and gives it strength. Outside the state, neither individuals nor groups (political parties, societies, trade unions and classes) should exist.” The state does not just interfere in the economic, political, social, spiritual, family and everyday life of society, it strives to completely subjugate, nationalize any manifestations of life. Enterprises, educational institutions, mass media, etc. are completely deprived of any independence, autonomy.
• 2. The concentration of the fullness of state political power in the hands of the leader of the party, entailing the actual removal of the population and ordinary members of the party from participating in the formation and activities of state bodies. The cult of leaderism: the leader is endowed with supernatural qualities. The authority of the leader is not based on trust, but is most likely of a mystical nature. The masses are characterized by the blind faith of the leader, the ideas put forward by him.

The leader was considered as a symbol of the nation, a messiah who unites the whole people and leads them to the right goal. The leader stands at the head of the state, expresses his will, the power of the state comes from the leader.

The totalitarian regime did not formally prevent the participation of the population in the political process. However, this participation was directed towards an active manifestation of loyalty to one's leader, ideology in a political party (elections as a simple vote in support of the candidate "bloc of communists and non-party people", mass demonstrations, demonstrations, parades, etc.).

• 3. Monopoly on the power of the only mass political party, the merging of the party and state apparatus, which results in the nationalization of the ruling party, the loss of many of its specific functions: the expression and representation of social interests, communication, information, etc.
• 4. The maximum concentration of power in one hand - autocracy, eliminates the principle of separation of power. Legislative and executive power is concentrated in the same structures; in fact, there is no independent judiciary. The judiciary has been reduced to the role of a servant, serving the interests of the party-state machine.
• 5. The undermining and destruction of the institutions and organizations of civil society, which expresses and protects the interests of citizens, stand between the state and the individual. This does not exclude the functioning of some public organizations: trade unions, various types of voluntary societies, local government organizations. However, the activities of all these organizations are under the full control of the ruling party and are regulated by the state.
• 6. The dominance in society of one all-powerful state ideology, which supports the belief in the justice of this system of power and the correctness of the chosen path among the masses. The official ideology is both the ideology of the ruling party and the state ideology. Departure from it is regarded as a manifestation of disloyalty to the existing regime and is severely punished, officially unrecognized beliefs and dissent are persecuted. There is strict censorship, there is no independent press. The official ideology - in conditions of constant ideological indoctrination of the population - is actively implanted through the mass media (mass media) completely controlled by the totalitarian government and being in its exclusive subordination, the propaganda apparatus (literature and art are also subordinate to the goals of propaganda), is imposed on society as the only true, true way thinking.

The core of the totalitarian ideology is one "great idea", presented as the key to a simple solution to all problems. The "packaging" of such an "overvalued" idea can be different - class, national, racial. The content of the "super-idea" is always the same, since in all cases it consists of such mandatory elements as: 1) facing the future. The hardships of today are considered only as necessary temporary sacrifices on the way to a "bright" tomorrow, accessible only exclusively to the bearers of the "great idea"; 2) the image of the "enemy". The “enemy” viciously hates the “great idea”, any agreements and compromises with it are fundamentally impossible. This enemy is absolutely beyond moral standards, he is infinitely cruel, cunning and merciless; 3) idealization, sacralization of the state, the state party, their leader - the Great Leader. They express the spirit of the people, embody their aspirations and dreams. Therefore, the people must wholeheartedly believe them, entrust them with their lives and security, unlimited powers to eradicate the enemies of the "great idea". In general, since all citizens of the state are particles of one common great people (supercollectivism “We” dominates in the masses), then the interests of the governed and those who manage it allegedly completely coincide, any control on the part of society over the state apparatus is completely unnecessary.

The “great idea” is irrational, deeply contradicts reality, therefore pluralism, any criticism, competition with other ideas, and especially objective information about the state of affairs in society and the world are deadly dangerous for it. Hence, simultaneously with the establishment of the strictest secrecy and the most severe monopoly on information, totalitarianism widely develops a disinformation strategy. The means of mass propaganda exaggerate any, sometimes even the most insignificant, achievements to astronomical proportions; publicly communicate only what contributes to the consolidation of the postulates of the "great idea" in the mass consciousness.

Acting as a messianic one, where the emphasis is not on individual, but on “cathedral” values ​​(state, nation, race, class, clan), the totalitarian ideology turns into some kind of state religion with special dogmas, holy books, holy apostles, with its god-men (represented by leaders, Fuhrers, Duce, and so on), the liturgy. Accordingly, the state is almost a system of theocratic government, where the high priest-ideologist is also the supreme ruler. “One of the most striking manifestations of the mythological spirit of the Soviet totalitarian ideology,” writes E. Batalov, “was the publication in the 30s of the “Short Course in the History of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks”, which was, in essence, nothing more than a collection of myths. Real historical events were replaced in it by "traditions" in which not living people acted, but "gods", "heroes" and "evil demons". These "traditions" were meant to be repeated many times by every citizen. They had to be believed like the Bible. They were not subject to any rational analysis and critical reflection. Tens of millions of people repeated sacred texts over and over again, as if re-experiencing them. Historical consciousness was supplanted by mythological consciousness.

The universality and ability of the totalitarian ideology to cut off the masses from the real world and create a “whole false world of consistency” largely determines its attractiveness for the widest, most diverse sections of society, which, in turn, ensures the attractiveness of totalitarianism itself, and, accordingly, mass support. him from the population.

• 7. Centralized system of control and management of the economy. The regime, as a rule, strives for the complete statization of economic life; to the restriction, and ideally, the complete elimination of private property, market relations, competition; to the approval of only one, state, form of ownership (this was especially pronounced in the USSR, where the land, its subsoil, water, forests, fixed assets of production (in industry, construction, agriculture), means of transport and communications were in the exclusive property of the Soviet state , banks, property of trade and other enterprises, that is, all means of human existence). Under these conditions, an individual becomes completely dependent on the only employer represented by the state. With any attempt to escape from this dependence, a person is left without means of subsistence, and even without freedom. The economy of totalitarianism is of a mobilization nature, aimed at achieving global goals (for example, victory in the war, industrialization, restoration of the destroyed national economy) at the expense of the well-being of ordinary citizens.
• 8. Complete lack of human rights. Political rights and freedoms are fixed formally, but are absent in reality. Laws protect only the interests of the ruling elite, presented as the interests of the state. It has serious restrictions not only in political, but also in other rights, such as freedom of the right to occupy public office, freedom of movement, choice of residence, choice of profession, etc.
• 9. There is strict censorship over all media and publishing activities. It is forbidden to criticize government officials, state ideology, speak positively about the life of the state with other political regimes.
• 10. The police and special services, along with the functions of ensuring law and order, perform the functions of punitive bodies, and act as an instrument of mass repression. In necessary cases, the army is also used for these purposes.
• 11. Suppression of any opposition and dissent through systematic and mass terror, which is based on both physical and spiritual violence. Constant mass terror is used, on the one hand, as a means of destroying one's political opponents ("enemies of the people", "enemies of the nation"), and on the other hand, as an effective way to control the masses. The process of continuous violence terrorizes the entire society, causes fear and fear in all sections of the population.
• 12. Suppression of personality, depersonalization of a person, turning him into a cog of the same type in the party-state machine. The state strives for the complete transformation of a person in accordance with the ideology adopted in it. Under totalitarianism, the task becomes: to form a certain type of personality with a special psychological make-up, mentality, and behavior. And this task is solved through the widespread implementation of the standardization and unification of individuality, its dissolution in the mass, the collective, the suppression of the individual, personal principle in a person, the cultivation of monotony, one-dimensionality, one-mindedness, unanimity.

The term "totalitarianism" (from the Latin totus - whole, whole, complete) was introduced into political circulation by the ideologist of Italian fascism G. Gentile at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1925, this concept was first heard in the Italian parliament. It was used by the leader of Italian fascism B. Mussolini. Since that time, the formation of a totalitarian system in Italy begins.

In each of the countries in which a political totalitarian regime arose and developed, it had its own specifics. However, there are common features that are inherent in all forms of totalitarianism and reflect its essence. The totalitarian regime is characterized by the absolute control of the state over all areas of public life, the complete subordination of a person to political power and the dominant ideology.

The main characteristics of a totalitarian political regime are:

1) the state strives for global domination over all spheres of public life, for all-encompassing power;

2) ideologization throughout the life of society. The ideology that the political leader defines includes a series of myths (about the leading role of the working class, about the superiority of the Aryan race, etc.). A totalitarian society conducts the widest ideological indoctrination of the population;

3) extreme intolerance to any dissent, prohibition of any other ideologies, demagoguery and dogmatism (in fascist Germany there was a "Law against the formation of new parties" of July 4, 1933, the first paragraph of which read: "In Germany, the National Socialist German Workers' Party exists as the only political party");

4) one-party system- a mass party with a rigid paramilitary structure, claiming complete subordination of its members to the symbols of faith and their spokesmen - the leaders, the leadership as a whole, grows together with the state and concentrates real power in society; prohibition of opposition-minded forces; the rights and freedoms of man and citizen are of a declarative, formal nature, there are no clear guarantees for their implementation;

5) undemocratic way organization of the party - it is built around the leader. Power comes down from the leader, not up from the masses;

6) society is almost completely alienated from political power, but it does not realize this, because in the political consciousness the idea of ​​\u200b\u200b"unity", "merger" of power and people is formed;

7) monopoly state control over the economy, the media, culture, religion, etc., up to personal life, to the motives of people's actions;

8) state power is formed in a bureaucratic way, through channels closed to society, surrounded by a "halo of secrecy" and inaccessible to control by the people;

9) actually pluralism is eliminated; centralization of state power headed by a dictator and his entourage; lack of control of repressive state bodies on the part of society, etc.

10) terrorist police control. Violence, coercion, and terror become the dominant method of government. In this regard, concentration camps and ghettos are being created, where hard labor, torture are used, and massacres of innocent people take place. (So, in the USSR, a whole network of camps was created - the Gulag). With the help of law enforcement and punitive bodies, the state controls the life and behavior of the population.

Kinds

1) "Right" totalitarianism- the idea of ​​national or racial-ethnic superiority of one people over another, the market economy, the institution of property is preserved, based on the mechanisms of economic self-regulation. Presented in 2 forms:

A) italian fascism. The main idea is the revival of the former power of the Roman Empire. Fascism claims to restore or purify the "people's soul", ensure a collective identity on a cultural or ethnic basis, and eliminate mass crime. In Italy, the boundaries of fascist totalitarianism were established by the position of the most influential circles in the state: the king, the aristocracy, the officer corps and the church. When the doom of the regime became apparent, these circles themselves were able to remove Mussolini from power.

b) German national socialism. The main idea is the dominance of the Aryan race, the German was proclaimed the highest nation. The main provisions of the National Socialist ideology boiled down to the following: the reconstruction of the German Reich; struggle for the purity of the German race; extermination of all foreign elements (and above all Jews); anti-communism; limitation of capitalism. The extremist-minded middle strata of society were the social support. German fascism also received support from big capital, which saw in it the "lesser evil" in comparison with the revolutionary movement of the masses and communist ideology. Unlike Marxism-Leninism, National Socialism advocated the idea of ​​a class world and a "people's community" based on common national traditions. The place of class here is occupied by the nation, the place of class hatred is national and racial hatred. The ideology of National Socialism actively preached the image of the "enemy" in the face of communism, Jews, and the Catholic Church. If in communist systems aggression is directed primarily inward - against its own citizens (class enemy), then in National Socialism - outward, against other peoples. To combat them and the survival of the nation, the use of terror and repression was allowed. Any weakness was perceived as a threat to the German nation.

2) " Left" totalitarianism- relies on a distributive planned economy, destroys the market, if it exists (USSR, China, North Korea, North Vietnam, Cuba). Based on the ideology of Marxism-Leninism, which asserts

a) the possibility of building a communist society in which the needs of all individuals will be fully satisfied;

b) the need to abolish private property and create a planned, regulated economy;

c) the leading role of the proletariat in modern history;

d) the need for the dictatorship of the proletariat in the transition to a new society;

e) the possibility of building communism in every country.

The social basis of the "left" totalitarianism was the lower classes and, above all, the proletariat. From the point of view of the dominant ideology, all other classes are less progressive, so the policy was aimed at the eradication of other classes. In practice, this meant the liquidation of the class of proprietors and the peasantry. Building a "bright future" involved the use of a powerful apparatus of coercion up to terror.

The question of the time frame for the existence of totalitarianism in the USSR is debatable in political science. Some political scientists believe that the entire period of Soviet history can be called totalitarian. Others call the regime that developed during the reign of Stalin (1929-1953) totalitarian, while the regime that developed after his death is defined as post-totalitarian.

About a third of the world's population has experienced totalitarianism in one form or another. In some countries (for example, in North Korea), it still exists today. History has shown that a totalitarian regime has a fairly high ability to mobilize resources and concentrate funds to achieve specific goals, such as winning a war, industrialization, etc. Some authors consider totalitarianism as one of the political forms of modernization of underdeveloped countries. The vitality of the totalitarian system is also explained by the presence of a huge apparatus of social control and coercion, and the brutal suppression of any opposition.

Internal and external functions of the Russian state.

Internal functions

1) the economic function of the state, because without the recovery of the economy, all paths to progress, the rule of law and the social state will be blocked. The economic function of the state consists in the development and state coordination of the main directions of economic policy. At different stages of the development of society, this function can manifest itself in different ways. Now this function in modern Russia is mainly reduced to the formation and execution of the budget, determining the strategy for the economic development of society, ensuring equal conditions for the existence of various forms of ownership, stimulating production, entrepreneurial activity, etc.

2) social function. Its main purpose is to ensure the beginning of social justice in the country, to create equal opportunities for all citizens in ensuring material well-being. In recent years, tens of millions of the country's inhabitants have fallen below the poverty line (elderly people, able-bodied citizens, school workers, etc.). Tasks: to stop the decline in the standard of living of the population; to strengthen the motivation of labor and entrepreneurial activity of economically active citizens; provide targeted support to the least protected social strata; more evenly and fairly distribute the burden of the economic crisis among different groups of the population; actively develop social legislation, etc.

3) the function of taxation and collection of taxes, organically related to economic and social. The budget of the state, its financial capabilities are entirely dependent on various kinds of taxes, fees, duties and other obligatory payments. A whole system of state bodies has been created to carry out this function (tax inspectorates, tax police, etc.), special legislation is being adopted (the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and other regulatory acts in the field of tax legislation).

4) the function of ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens, law and order is one of the most important in the activities of the Russian state. The Constitution of the Russian Federation states that Russia is a constitutional state. Consequently, the primary task is to ensure that the constitutional rights and freedoms of man and citizen become real, that is, comprehensively guaranteed and protected.

5) the function of protecting nature and the environment (environmental function) is a new developing area of ​​activity of the modern Russian state, associated with the aggravation of the environmental situation in the world and in the country. It is expressed in the development of environmental legislation, with the help of which the state establishes a legal regime for nature management, assumes obligations to its citizens to ensure a normal living environment, closes, if necessary, environmentally harmful enterprises, fines violators of the law, etc.

6) the function of ensuring (stimulating) scientific and technological progress. The weakening of the attention of the state in recent years to this vital direction of its activity had an immediate and disastrous effect on the once powerful scientific and technical potential of the country.

7) The cultural function is designed to raise the cultural and educational level of citizens, characteristic of a civilized society, to create conditions for their participation in the cultural life of society, the use of relevant institutions and achievements. Today, its content is the versatile state support for the development of culture - literature, art, theater, cinema, music, the media, science, education, etc., although it is clearly insufficient.

External functions

1) the function of trade, economic, partnerships with the world community. Its implementation requires that measures to liberalize exports be accompanied by the establishment of strict state control over the export of strategically important raw materials and energy resources and currency control from the country.

2) The function of assistance in ensuring international peace is connected with the activities of the Russian state in the prevention of war, disarmament, reduction of chemical and nuclear weapons, strengthening of the mandatory for all regime of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the latest military technologies. We are talking, in particular, about the participation of Russia and other countries in the settlement of interethnic and interstate conflicts, the inclusion of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in peacekeeping operations

3) The function of the country's defense. It is based on the principle of maintaining a sufficient level of defense capability of society that meets the requirements of its state security, is intended to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation, and to suppress armed conflicts that threaten the vital interests of Russia. The defense of the country involves the development of a clear defensive strategy, the strengthening of defense power, the improvement of the armed forces, the protection of the state border, etc.

4) The function of cooperation with other states is manifested in the various activities of modern Russia, aimed at establishing and developing economic, political, legal, informational, cultural and other relations that harmoniously combine the interests of this state with the interests of other countries. The growing interconnectedness of all countries of the world makes it necessary for Russia to cooperate with all the states of the planet in solving world, global problems - the fight against international crime, the prevention of environmental disasters, the universal protection of nature and the preservation of a favorable global climate.

The external functions of the state are closely connected with the internal ones. Their implementation ensures the full existence of the state in the modern world, which is becoming increasingly interdependent.

Introduction

Mankind has been looking for the most perfect forms of state organization of society for thousands of years. These forms change with the development of society itself. The form of government, the structure of the state, the political regime - these are the specific areas where this search is most intensive.

The term "political regime" appears in scientific circulation in the 60th century.

Category, "political regime", according to some scholars; due to its synthetic nature, it should have been considered as a synonym for the form of the state. According to others, the political regime in general should be excluded from the composition of the form of the state, since the functioning of the state is characterized not by the political, but by the state regime. The discussions of that period gave rise to broad and narrow approaches to understanding the political (state) regime.

A broad approach refers the political regime to the phenomena of political life and to the political system of society as a whole.

Narrow - makes it the property of only public life and the state, since it specifies other elements of the form of the state: the form of government and the form of government, as well as the forms and methods for the implementation by the state of its functions. The political regime presupposes and necessarily requires broad and narrow approaches, because this corresponds to the modern understanding of the political processes taking place in society in two main areas - state and socio-political, as well as the nature of the political system, which includes the state and non-state, socio-political organizations .

All components of the political system: political parties, public organizations, labor collectives (as well as “extra-systemic” objects: the church, mass movements, etc.) are significantly influenced by the state, its essence, the nature of functions, forms and methods of activity, and etc. At the same time, there is also an inverse relationship, since the state to a large extent perceives the impact of the socio-political "environment".

This influence extends to the form of the state, in particular to the political regime.

Thus, to characterize the form of the state, the political regime is important both in the narrow sense of the word (a set of methods and methods of state leadership), and in a broad sense (the level of guarantee of democratic rights and political freedoms of the individual, the degree of compliance of official constitutional and legal forms with political realities). , the nature of the relationship of power structures to the legal foundations of state and public life).

This characteristic of the form of the state reflects extra-legal or legal ways of exercising power, methods of using the “material” appendages of the state: prisons, other punitive institutions, dictatorial or democratic methods of influencing the population, ideological pressure, ensuring or, conversely, violating individual freedom, protecting the rights of citizens , participation in the people, political parties, a measure of economic freedom, attitude to certain forms of ownership, etc.

The theory of the state, depending on certain criteria, identifies the types of political regimes that have been used in the centuries-old history of statehood.

These types represent a wide range between authoritarian and democratic, extreme poles on the whole scale of political methods of power.

Definition and signs of a totalitarian regime

The term itself appeared in the late 1920s, when some political scientists sought to separate the socialist state from democratic states and were looking for a clear definition of socialist statehood.

The concept of “totalitarianism” means the whole, whole, complete (from the Latin words “TOTALITAS” - wholeness, completeness and “TOTALIS” - whole, complete, whole). It was introduced into circulation by the ideologue of Italian fascism G. Gentile at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1925, this concept was first heard in the Italian parliament.

In all the variety of reasons and conditions for the emergence of totalitarian political regimes, the main role, as history shows, is played by a deep crisis situation in which the economy and the entire public life of the state find themselves.

A totalitarian regime arises in crisis situations - post-war, during a civil war, when tough measures are needed to restore the economy, restore order, eliminate strife in society, and ensure stability. Social groups that need protection, support and care of the state act as its social base.

Among the main conditions for the emergence of totalitarianism, many researchers name the entry of society into the industrial stage, when the possibilities of the mass media have increased dramatically, contributing to the general ideologization of society and the establishment of comprehensive control over the individual.

This stage gave rise to the monopolization of the economy and, at the same time, the strengthening of state power, its regulatory and control functions. The industrial stage contributed to the emergence of the ideological prerequisite for totalitarianism, namely, the formation of a collectivist worldview, a consciousness based on the superiority of the collective over the individual. And, finally, an important role was played by political conditions, which included the emergence of a new mass party, a sharp increase in the role of the state, and the development of various kinds of totalitarian movements.

Usually, totalitarianism is understood as a political regime based on the desire of the country's leadership to subordinate the way of life of people to one, undividedly dominant idea and to organize the political system of power so that it helps to realize this idea.

The totalitarian regime is characterized, as a rule, by the presence of one official ideology, which is formed and set by the socio-political movement, political party, ruling elite, political leader, "leader of the people", in most cases charismatic, as well as the desire of the state for absolute control over all areas social life, the complete subordination of man to political power and the dominant ideology.

At the same time, the authorities and the people are thought of as a single whole, an inseparable whole, the people become relevant in the struggle against internal enemies, the authorities and the people against a hostile external environment.

The ideology of the regime is also reflected in the fact that the political leader determines the ideology. He can change his mind within a day, as happened in the summer of 1939, when the Soviet people suddenly learned that Nazi Germany was no longer an enemy of socialism.

On the contrary, its system was declared better than the false democracies of the bourgeois West. This unexpected interpretation was maintained for two years until Nazi Germany's perfidious attack on the USSR.

The basis of totalitarian ideology is the consideration of history as a natural movement towards a specific goal (world domination, building communism, etc.).

The totalitarian regime allows only one ruling party, and all others, even pre-existing parties, seek to disperse, ban or destroy.

The ruling party is declared the leading force of society, its attitudes are regarded as sacred dogmas.

Competing ideas about the social reorganization of society are declared anti-people, aimed at undermining the foundations of society, at inciting social hostility. The ruling party seizes the reins of state administration: there is a merging of the party and state apparatuses.

As a result, the simultaneous holding of party and state positions becomes a mass phenomenon, and where this does not happen, state officials carry out direct instructions from persons holding party posts.

In public administration, the totalitarian regime is characterized by extreme centralism.

In practice, management looks like the execution of commands from above, in which the initiative is actually not encouraged at all, but is severely punished. Local authorities and governments are becoming mere transmitters of commands. Features of the regions (economic, national, cultural, social, religious, etc.), as a rule, are not taken into account.

The leader is the center of the totalitarian system. His actual position is sacralized. He is declared the most wise, infallible, just, tirelessly thinking about the welfare of the people.

Any critical attitude towards him is suppressed. Usually charismatic personalities are nominated for this role.

Against this background, there is an increase in the power of the executive bodies, the omnipotence of the nomenklatura arises, i.e.

officials whose appointment is coordinated with the highest bodies of the ruling party or is carried out at their direction. The nomenklatura, the bureaucracy exercises power for the purpose of enrichment, conferring privileges in the educational, medical and other social fields.

The political elite uses the possibilities of totalitarianism to obtain privileges and benefits hidden from society: household, including medical, educational, cultural, etc.

Discretionary, i.e. powers that are not provided for and not limited by law, the discretion of administrative bodies is growing.

The “power fist”, “power structure” (army, police, security agencies, prosecutor's office, etc.) stands out especially against the background of the expanded executive bodies; punitive authorities. The police exist under different regimes, however, under totalitarianism, police control is terrorist in the sense that no one will prove guilt in order to kill a person.

The totalitarian regime will widely and constantly use terror against the population.

Physical violence acts as the main condition for strengthening and exercising power. For these purposes, concentration camps and ghettos are being created, where hard labor is used, people are tortured, their will to resist is suppressed, and innocent people are massacred.

Totalitarianism as a political regime: concept, signs, conditions of emergence

Totalitarian regime attributed to the phenomena of the XX century.

The term "totalitarian" in Latin means "whole", "whole", "complete". It was introduced into political circulation by B. Mussolini in 1925 to characterize the fascist movement in Italy.

In the future, this characteristic was used by Western politicians to designate the regime in the USSR.

Totalitarianism- the state system and mode of production, characterized by the absolute control of the state over all areas of public life, the complete subordination of a person to political power and the dominant ideology.

As a political regime, totalitarianism is a comprehensive control of the state over the population, all forms and spheres of society and relies on the systematic use of violence or the threat of its use.

The following features are characteristic of a totalitarian regime:

1) The state strives for global dominance over all spheres of public life, for all-encompassing power, subjugation of the “only true” theory through the planning of all economic and social processes;

2) Ideologization of all public life: at the state level, a single common official ideology for the whole country has been introduced;

3) Intolerance to any dissent;

4) Society is almost completely alienated from political power, but it does not realize this, because in the political consciousness the idea of ​​\u200b\u200b"unity", "fusion" of power and people is formed;

5) Absolute "legal", or rather, anti-legal regulation of public relations, which is based on the principle "only what is expressly permitted by law is allowed";

6) Monopoly state control over the economy, the media (introduction of strict censorship), culture, religion, etc.

up to personal life, to the motives of people's actions;

7) suppression of human individuality, violence, coercion, terror becomes the dominant method of control;

8) The dominance of one party, the actual merging of its professional apparatus with the state, the prohibition of opposition-minded forces;

9) rigid centralization of power, the hierarchy of which is headed by the leader (ideas of leaderism);

10) State power is formed in a bureaucratic way, through channels closed to society, surrounded by a "halo of secrecy" and inaccessible to control by the people;

11) abolition of local self-government;

12) denial of private life and private property, the dominant position of state property.

Totalitarianism has three varieties:left totalitarianism (communism), right totalitarianism (fascism), religious totalitarianism (Islamic fundamentalism). It must be borne in mind that in individual countries certain features of totalitarianism often manifest themselves in very specific forms.

Right-wing totalitarianism represented by two forms - Italian fascism and German National Socialism.

They are considered right because they usually retained the market economy, the institution of private property, and relied on the mechanisms of economic self-regulation. Since 1922, the integration of Italian society took place on the basis of the idea of ​​reviving the former might of the Roman Empire.

The establishment of fascism in Italy was the reaction of the petty and middle bourgeoisie to the lag in the process of forming national and economic integrity. Fascism embodied the antagonism of the petty-bourgeois strata towards the old aristocracy.

[Edit] Signs of a totalitarian society

Italian fascism largely marked the signs of totalitarianism, although it did not fully develop them.

The classic form of right-wing totalitarianism is National Socialism in Germany, established in 1933. Its emergence was a response to the crisis of liberalism and the loss of the socio-economic and national identity of the Germans after the defeat of Germany in the First World War.

The revival of former power.

The fascist regime, as a variety of totalitarianism, has the same features as the totalitarian one, but it also has its own characteristics, in particular:

a) is based on a racist ideology that proclaims one nation or people as the highest, elite, and other, "inferior" peoples must serve the superior race or are subject to destruction;

b) shows extreme aggressiveness towards other states, trying to win new spaces for the superior race.

Hence the militarization of the life of the country, the introduction of military-bureaucratic centralism.

It is believed that at present the fascist regime does not exist anywhere, however, bursts or individual manifestations of fascist ideology can be observed from time to time.

The leftist version of totalitarianism was the Soviet communist regime and similar regimes in the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe, South-East Asia, Cuba.

It relied (and in a number of countries still relies) on a distributive planned economy, public property, the collective goal of society in the form of the ideal of building a communist future, and strong state power.

The following are the conditions for the formation of totalitarianism:

• a sharp breakdown of established structures, the marginalization of various social groups;
• destruction or absence of spheres of activity of civil society;
• the emergence of modern media;
• deformation of political consciousness;
• the absence of democratic traditions, the predisposition of the mass public consciousness to violent methods of resolving issues;
• accumulation of state experience in solving social problems by mobilizing many millions of the population;
• the availability of opportunities for creating an extensive apparatus of repression and violence.

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Signs of a totalitarian society

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In their work "Totalitarian Dictatorship and Autocracy" (1965), Karl Friedrich and Zbigniew Brzezinski, based on a comparison of the Stalinist USSR, Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, formulated a number of defining features of a totalitarian society:

The presence of one comprehensive ideology on which the political system of society is built

The presence of a single party, usually led by a dictator, that merges with the state apparatus and the secret police

The extremely high role of the state apparatus, the penetration of the state into almost all spheres of society

Lack of pluralism in the media.

Rigid ideological censorship of all legal channels of information, as well as programs of secondary and higher education.

Criminal punishment for the dissemination of independent information.

The big role of state propaganda, manipulation of the mass consciousness of the population

Rejection of traditions, including traditional morality, and complete subordination of the choice of means to the goals set (to build a "new society")

Mass repressions and terror by law enforcement agencies

Destruction of individual civil rights and freedoms

Central planning of the economy

Almost total control of the ruling party over the armed forces and the spread of weapons among the population

The above list does not mean that any regime that has at least one of these features should be classified as totalitarian.

In particular, some of the listed features were also characteristic of democratic regimes at different times. Similarly, the absence of any one feature is not a basis for classifying a regime as non-totalitarian. However, the first two features, according to researchers of the totalitarian model, are its most striking characteristics.

auctoritas - power, influence) - a characteristic of special types of non-democratic regimes based on the unlimited power of one person or group of people while maintaining some economic, civil, spiritual freedoms for citizens. The term "authoritarianism" was introduced into scientific circulation by the theorists of the Frankfurt School of Neo-Marxism and meant a certain set of social characteristics inherent in both political culture and mass consciousness in general.

An authoritarian political regime means the absence of true democracy, both in terms of free elections and in the management of state structures.

Often combined with the dictatorship of an individual, which manifests itself to one degree or another.

Traditional absolutist monarchies (examples: Ethiopia before 1947, Nepal, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and others).

Typical for Latin American countries (examples: Guatemala, Nicaragua before 1979 and others).

Marcos in 1972 - 1985).

Countries of "socialist orientation" with all the peculiarities of the perception of socialism, its types, egalitarian traditions of their own culture, and so on (examples: Algeria, Burma, Guinea, Mozambique, Tanzania and others). This kind of authoritarianism has practically disappeared by now.

Military regimes (examples: the regime of G. A. Nasser in Egypt, J. Peron in Argentina, authoritarian regimes in Iraq, Peru and others).

autocracy or a small number of power holders (monarch, dictator, military junta, oligarchic group);

lack of control of power by the people, narrowed or nullified the principles of election of state bodies and officials, their accountability to the population;

the principle of separation of powers is ignored, the head of state, the executive power dominate, the role of representative bodies is limited;

monopolization of power and politics, prevention of real political opposition and competition (sometimes the absence of various political institutions may be a consequence of the immaturity of civil society);

renunciation of total control over society, non-intervention or limited interference in non-political spheres, primarily in the economy;

command and administrative methods dominate as methods of state administration, at the same time there is no terror, mass repressions are practically not used;

there is no single ideology;

the rights and freedoms of the individual are mainly proclaimed, but not really ensured (primarily in the political sphere);

a person is deprived of guarantees of security in relations with the authorities;

power structures are practically beyond the control of society and are sometimes used for political purposes.

It should also be singled out as a kind of authoritarianism theocratic regimes, when political power is concentrated in the hands of clerics.

Question number 17. Tell us about the historical past and present of authoritarian regimes.

This caused ambiguity in the assessment of such states. Moreover, many consider such a regime to be the most acceptable for states implementing reforms that are in the process of political modernization.

in various countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. It exists at the present time (Libya, Morocco, Syria, etc.). Various forms of an authoritarian regime are known: semi-fascist, military-dictatorial, constitutional-authoritarian, constitutional-patriarchal, clerical, racist and others.

As an intermediate between democratic and totalitarian regimes, an authoritarian regime tends to either grow into a totalitarian regime, or transform into a semi-democratic and then democratic.

However, being an independent type of political regime, the authoritarian regime is characterized by its own, only inherent features.

Question number 18. Describe democracy as a political regime.

Democracy(Greek δημοκρατία - “equal to the people”) - the political regime of the state or a political system in which power is exercised through direct democracy (direct democracy) or through representatives elected by the people or some part of the people (representative democracy).

Totalitarianism

The main feature of democracy is the provision of proportional representation in power of the broadest possible interests of the population present in the country, as well as the dynamic change in representative power, along with the corresponding changes in these interests over time.

The modern concept of democracy includes the following civil rights and freedoms:

freedom of speech in the presence of responsibility for the use of this right;

freedom of religion and practice of faith, religious cults and rites;

separation of religion from state and school;

freedom to choose the language of interpersonal communication;

independence of the press and other media (including television);

depoliticization and departization of the army, police, state security agencies, the prosecutor's office and the court, the ordinary (non-political) staff of the apparatus of state power and administration;

civil, public and parliamentary control over the army, police, state security agencies and other power structures;

the right of a citizen to freely receive and disseminate complete, reliable and truthful information about the activities of government and administration;

freedom of creativity and artistic expression, and in particular freedom of expression;

freedom of peaceful assembly, marches, meetings and demonstrations;

freedom of unions, organizations and political parties not prohibited by law;

the right of citizens to freely unite in any public organizations, groups, unions and political parties not prohibited by law;

guarantees of personal inviolability of citizens;

the human right to life, personal liberty and security;

the right to private property, guarantees of its inviolability and the right to freedom of economic activity not prohibited by law;

the independence and impartiality of the judiciary;

the right of a person to a fair and objective trial of his case in court, while ensuring real competition between the parties to the prosecution and defense and strict observance of the presumption of innocence;

strict adherence to the principle of separation of legislative, executive and judicial powers;

responsibility of executive power officials to representative bodies;

limiting state interference in the activities of economic entities, citizens, public organizations, parties and movements, religious denominations, local governments;

strong local self-government;

developed civil society;

developed institutions of parliamentarism, including parliamentary investigations;

universal, equal and direct suffrage while ensuring real equality and competitiveness of candidates, political parties and movements and their programs;

state guarantees of intra-party and intra-trade union democracy, in particular, guarantees of the free existence of intra-party factions and compliance with certain procedures in the election of party bodies - this cannot be an internal affair of any party applying for participation in elections.

Question number 19. Tell us about the state as a political institution and name its main features.

The central institution of the political system is the state.

The main content of politics is concentrated in its activity. The term "state" itself is usually used in two senses.

In a broad sense the state is understood as a community of people represented and organized by a higher authority and living in a certain territory. In modern science the state, in the narrow sense, is understood as an organization, a system of institutions that have supreme power in a certain territory.

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Introduction

Mankind has been looking for the most perfect forms of state organization of society for thousands of years. These forms change with the development of society itself. The form of government, the structure of the state, the political regime - these are the specific areas where this search is most intensive.

The term "political regime" appears in scientific circulation in the 60th century. Category, "political regime", according to some scholars; due to its synthetic nature, it should have been considered as a synonym for the form of the state. According to others, the political regime in general should be excluded from the composition of the form of the state, since the functioning of the state is characterized not by the political, but by the state regime. The discussions of that period gave rise to broad and narrow approaches to understanding the political (state) regime.

A broad approach refers the political regime to the phenomena of political life and to the political system of society as a whole. Narrow - makes it the property of only public life and the state, since it specifies other elements of the form of the state: the form of government and the form of government, as well as the forms and methods for the implementation by the state of its functions. The political regime presupposes and necessarily requires broad and narrow approaches, because this corresponds to the modern understanding of the political processes taking place in society in two main areas - state and socio-political, as well as the nature of the political system, which includes the state and non-state, socio-political organizations . All components of the political system: political parties, public organizations, labor collectives (as well as “extra-systemic” objects: the church, mass movements, etc.) are significantly influenced by the state, its essence, the nature of functions, forms and methods of activity, and etc. At the same time, there is also an inverse relationship, since the state to a large extent perceives the impact of the socio-political "environment". This influence extends to the form of the state, in particular to the political regime.

Thus, to characterize the form of the state, the political regime is important both in the narrow sense of the word (a set of methods and methods of state leadership), and in a broad sense (the level of guarantee of democratic rights and political freedoms of the individual, the degree of compliance of official constitutional and legal forms with political realities). , the nature of the relationship of power structures to the legal foundations of state and public life).

This characteristic of the form of the state reflects extra-legal or legal ways of exercising power, methods of using the “material” appendages of the state: prisons, other punitive institutions, dictatorial or democratic methods of influencing the population, ideological pressure, ensuring or, conversely, violating individual freedom, protecting the rights of citizens , participation in the people, political parties, a measure of economic freedom, attitude to certain forms of ownership, etc.

The theory of the state, depending on certain criteria, identifies the types of political regimes that have been used in the centuries-old history of statehood. These types represent a wide range between authoritarian and democratic, extreme poles on the whole scale of political methods of power.

Definition and signs of a totalitarian regime

The term itself appeared in the late 1920s, when some political scientists sought to separate the socialist state from democratic states and were looking for a clear definition of socialist statehood. The concept of “totalitarianism” means the whole, whole, complete (from the Latin words “TOTALITAS” - wholeness, completeness and “TOTALIS” - whole, complete, whole). It was introduced into circulation by the ideologue of Italian fascism G. Gentile at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1925, this concept was first heard in the Italian parliament.

In all the variety of reasons and conditions for the emergence of totalitarian political regimes, the main role, as history shows, is played by a deep crisis situation in which the economy and the entire public life of the state find themselves. A totalitarian regime arises in crisis situations - post-war, during a civil war, when tough measures are needed to restore the economy, restore order, eliminate strife in society, and ensure stability. Social groups that need protection, support and care of the state act as its social base.

Among the main conditions for the emergence of totalitarianism, many researchers name the entry of society into the industrial stage, when the possibilities of the mass media have increased dramatically, contributing to the general ideologization of society and the establishment of comprehensive control over the individual. This stage gave rise to the monopolization of the economy and, at the same time, the strengthening of state power, its regulatory and control functions. The industrial stage contributed to the emergence of the ideological prerequisite for totalitarianism, namely, the formation of a collectivist worldview, a consciousness based on the superiority of the collective over the individual. And, finally, an important role was played by political conditions, which included the emergence of a new mass party, a sharp increase in the role of the state, and the development of various kinds of totalitarian movements.

Usually, totalitarianism is understood as a political regime based on the desire of the country's leadership to subordinate the way of life of people to one, undividedly dominant idea and to organize the political system of power so that it helps to realize this idea.

The totalitarian regime is characterized, as a rule, by the presence of one official ideology, which is formed and set by the socio-political movement, political party, ruling elite, political leader, "leader of the people", in most cases charismatic, as well as the desire of the state for absolute control over all areas social life, the complete subordination of man to political power and the dominant ideology. At the same time, the authorities and the people are thought of as a single whole, an inseparable whole, the people become relevant in the struggle against internal enemies, the authorities and the people against a hostile external environment.

The ideology of the regime is also reflected in the fact that the political leader determines the ideology. He can change his mind within a day, as happened in the summer of 1939, when the Soviet people suddenly learned that Nazi Germany was no longer an enemy of socialism. On the contrary, its system was declared better than the false democracies of the bourgeois West. This unexpected interpretation was maintained for two years until Nazi Germany's perfidious attack on the USSR.

The basis of totalitarian ideology is the consideration of history as a natural movement towards a specific goal (world domination, building communism, etc.).

The totalitarian regime allows only one ruling party, and all others, even pre-existing parties, seek to disperse, ban or destroy. The ruling party is declared the leading force of society, its attitudes are regarded as sacred dogmas. Competing ideas about the social reorganization of society are declared anti-people, aimed at undermining the foundations of society, at inciting social hostility. The ruling party seizes the reins of state administration: there is a merging of the party and state apparatuses. As a result, the simultaneous holding of party and state positions becomes a mass phenomenon, and where this does not happen, state officials carry out direct instructions from persons holding party posts.

In public administration, the totalitarian regime is characterized by extreme centralism. In practice, management looks like the execution of commands from above, in which the initiative is actually not encouraged at all, but is severely punished. Local authorities and governments are becoming mere transmitters of commands. Features of the regions (economic, national, cultural, social, religious, etc.), as a rule, are not taken into account.

The leader is the center of the totalitarian system. His actual position is sacralized. He is declared the most wise, infallible, just, tirelessly thinking about the welfare of the people. Any critical attitude towards him is suppressed. Usually charismatic personalities are nominated for this role.

Against this background, there is an increase in the power of the executive bodies, the omnipotence of the nomenklatura arises, i.e. officials whose appointment is coordinated with the highest bodies of the ruling party or is carried out at their direction. The nomenklatura, the bureaucracy exercises power for the purpose of enrichment, conferring privileges in the educational, medical and other social fields. The political elite uses the possibilities of totalitarianism to obtain privileges and benefits hidden from society: household, including medical, educational, cultural, etc.

Discretionary, i.e. powers that are not provided for and not limited by law, the discretion of administrative bodies is growing. The “power fist”, “power structure” (army, police, security agencies, prosecutor's office, etc.) stands out especially against the background of the expanded executive bodies; punitive authorities. The police exist under different regimes, however, under totalitarianism, police control is terrorist in the sense that no one will prove guilt in order to kill a person.

The totalitarian regime will widely and constantly use terror against the population. Physical violence acts as the main condition for strengthening and exercising power. For these purposes, concentration camps and ghettos are being created, where hard labor is used, people are tortured, their will to resist is suppressed, and innocent people are massacred.

There are two branches in political government: democratic and anti-democratic orders. Totalitarian does not apply to the first of them. Its concept has been discussed for more than a century, it attracts the attention of dozens of critics. It is difficult to find a person who does not know what a totalitarian regime is. But if you devote time to this concept, you can learn more interesting things.

Briefly, a totalitarian regime is the complete control of all spheres of life by the authorities. Absolute subordination of citizens under one ideology. For a more precise definition, we can say that this is the exact opposite of democracy.

Over the years of its existence, totalitarianism has been criticized by politicians. Its existence is debatable. Despite the fact that the first rulers who "glorified" him to the whole world - Mussolini and Stalin, the origins go deeper into the centuries.

Each country makes its own adjustments, from which the concept may be distorted. However, there are basic features that fully reflect the peculiarity and essence of totalitarianism.

Interesting! In fact, even democracy does not promise complete freedoms and does not always ensure the rights of citizens.

The concept is fully revealed by the Wikipedia website. According to him, this is the desire for power over complete control of all areas of public life.

In addition, any resistance in a rigid form is suppressed. The emphasis is on the reign of Mussolini and Hitler, criticism of well-known political scientists and the situation in the Soviet Union.

At the same time, it is noted that the history of such a manifestation of power does not begin in Italy, where the term itself was first used.

Interesting! How does natural and social

Characteristic

Despite the fact that each ruler has the right to formulate the concept in his own way, there are a number of well-known features. After reading them, it immediately becomes clear what this mode means. It is not only opposed to democracy, but also has common directions with authoritarianism and even socialism.

Main characteristics:

1. The first thing that attracts attention in a totalitarian society is one single ideology. It is the foundation of the political system. Citizens do not have the right to deviate from the generally accepted, do not want or even do not consider this idea acceptable.
2. All are ruled by one single party, which does not give the right to choose. The dictator directs absolutely all processes.
3. The state influences all spheres of life.
4. The mass media are completely subordinate to the state apparatus.
5. In the case of the dissemination of "objectionable" information in the media and education, punishment is threatened.
6. Political propaganda controls and subjugates absolutely the entire population.
7. This is political terror and repression.
8. All human rights and freedoms are destroyed.
9. militarization of society.

It is wrong to say that several points already fully characterize any way of life as totalitarian. The fact is that some restrictions are allowed not only in socialism, but also in democracy.

From all of the above, political scientists single out the absence of rights and freedoms, a single ideology as the basis.

Who owns the power

The totalitarian system is characterized by the fact that power in the state belongs to one person. The one who rules, depriving the rights and freedoms of citizens, is called a dictator. Speaking of total control of all spheres of life, Mussolini, Hitler and Stalin are not left without attention.

Three rulers left a mark and immortalized the years of their reign as the times of total control, the advantage of ideology over the rights of the population and the whole system of manipulating the public masses. Moreover, if in relation to Mussolini the term was attached already in 1923 by Giovanni Amendola, then the system of government in the USSR since the late 1920s has been actively disguised as a desire to make the country great and powerful.

Comparison of Stalin and Hitler has become a whole science. Political scientists argue, find differences, and finally agree on one thing. The two most cruel rulers, two bloody leaders were so similar in their origin and rule, and they put the end in such a different way.

The point is the different goals and motives of such an image of ownership. Hitler raved about the exclusivity of his ideas. Destroyed, killed, conquered. And it ended in collapse, collapse and a black spot. Stalin used total surveillance as a tool to reach the peak of his power. As a result, he left a great state on the pages of history.

And after so many years, two people are able to argue: it was good or bad in the USSR. Opinions also differ about how cruel the dictators were. Hitler killed enemies, Stalin killed his own too. But there is more blood on the hands of the first.

Mussolini is also a controversial character. The fact is that it is with him that total surveillance is associated, the history of the term began with him. However, the dictator did not build that same totalitarian system in his country.

There were some differences and freedoms that now allow us to challenge the opinion of political scientists about him as a cruel dictator and about his features of government.

Such an anti-democratic routine flourished in the USSR only under Stalin. It is foolish to say that his whole history is based on total control.

Countries with a totalitarian regime

Opinions of political scientists and other public figures about countries with a totalitarian foundation differ. Everything comes from the fact that it is difficult to achieve a specific government. As already mentioned, each ruler sets his own rules. Many countries have experienced totalitarianism with "notes" of other phenomena of government.

Whatever disputes about Mussolini or Hitler were, now we can still conclude that their nature of government is total control, restriction of rights and freedoms. The USSR (only under Stalin), Germany and Italy are the most popular and prominent examples.

If we talk about modern states, then the leader in the race is the DPRK. The republic came closest to complete control, isolated itself from other countries. If only relative observation is taken into account, then there are slightly more contenders.

Due to the fact that there are definitely few real examples that do not inspire doubt, some even refute the correctness of such a term as “totalitarianism” and attribute it to a deviation or tightening of authoritarianism. One little-known country in East Africa is striking in its peculiarities in governance.

And even surpasses the modern DPRK. In Eritrea, all residents, regardless of position in society, serve from the age of 18 to 55. Communication in one circle of 3 people is a meeting for which you need to get permission.

No one can compete with both poverty and a frozen war. If we talk about the countries of the past, then add Portugal, Japan, China, Iran. But such an opinion is relatively erroneous.

Where does the regime originate?

The term has been known since the 20th century, but this does not mean that it came out of nowhere. Examples of ancient states with such restrictions were described in the works of Plato "State".

The first example is the Sumerian Third Dynasty of Ur. This means that history originates four millennia ago in Mesopotamia. Many restrictions were imposed on citizens.

First of all, free trade. Crafts were also controlled. Slavery flourished, which is the best proof of the assumptions about such a beginning. School education was controlled in every way, and had to follow certain ideological considerations. History was falsified to please the ruler.

The second example is the philosophical school in ancient China "fajia". The founder of the provisions developed a system based on the persecution of dissidents. So, the inhabitants had to be deprived of various kinds of entertainment, sent to the study and introduced a system of punishments. There must be 9 punishments per reward. These facts about the totalitarian regime are also covered by Wikipedia.

A more modern example is the Jesuit state in Paraguay. The beginning of the government came from communism, but researchers argue about a totalitarian system.

Criticism

There are quite a few critics of total restriction. Who will like the restriction of any freedoms, manipulation, outright cruelty? In their works, they analyzed in detail the following political direction:

• Friedrich Hayek;
• H. Arendt;
• K. Popper.

Hayek, in his works The Road to Slavery and the Constitution of Liberty, clearly and briefly explained the totalitarian regime, the inadmissibility of such control, and infringement of rights. The economy and the system of market trade were criticized.

Unlike other critics, Popper does not analyze the systems of government, but gives their main features, which allows him to independently understand how good or bad it is. An example of an "open" and "closed" society is given.

Hannah Arendt philosophizes about the origins, what a totalitarian regime means to them, and analyzes the common features of Nazism and Stalinism.

totalitarianism and authoritarianism

If a person gave about a dozen examples of countries with totalitarianism, then it is obvious that all or most of them are in fact with an authoritarian regime that has undergone changes. It is worth noting that they are not equally democratic.

Their common features:

1. Power is in the hands of a few people.
2. The principle of a "closed" society, which means complete isolation.
3. Any resistance is impossible.
4. Rights and freedoms are not provided.
5. The army and law enforcement agencies are under the control of the authorities.
6. The sampling process is simulated.

At the heart of authoritarianism is the personality of the ruler. But totalitarianism is a regime in which the death of a dictator does not entail the collapse of the country. Ideology in the first version is not always the place to be. And the action of total control is directly related to a single ideology. Similarities and subtle differences form different opinions about which country thrives in which system.

Literature and political regime

Many political forms of government have been described in the literature. Totalitarianism has been repeatedly criticized and ridiculed in literary masterpieces. Such books are not immediately accepted. Not everyone knows how to look through the prism of metaphors. But such subtext can open your eyes with ease.

Important! The most famous example, which strikes with its dirty truth, open criticism and the power of comparisons, is the novel "1984" by D. Orwell.

His satire "Animal Farm" is also referred there, where totalitarianism reigned, and pigs were associated with people. Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, Yevgeny Zamyatin's We and many other works, which may not be so open about anger towards the authorities, but there is an emphasis on the fact that the totalitarian regime is a pit of the past and the great abyss of the future.

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Summing up

Totalitarianism is a regime in which the goal is the complete restriction of the freedoms and rights of citizens, interference in all spheres of life. Three countries are known in which it flourished: Italy under Mussolini, the USSR under Stalin, Germany under Hitler. There are numerous disputes about the right to call the rule of these dictators totalitarianism. There are many examples in the literature of description and comparison of complete restriction and interference in any processes of society, which are criticized with the help of literary devices.

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