What is the Difference Between Totalitarianism and Authoritarianism?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Totalitarianism and authoritarianism are both forms of government that discourage individual freedom of thought and action. However, there are key differences between the two:
- Scope of control: Authoritarianism is characterized by a government having absolute political power and controlling the political sphere, but it generally leaves the people to manage their private lives on their own. Totalitarianism, on the other hand, seeks to control every aspect of the lives of its people, including their thoughts, actions, and social interactions.
- Guiding ideology: Totalitarian states usually have a highly developed guiding ideology, while authoritarian states typically do not.
- Social organizations: Totalitarian states suppress traditional social organizations, whereas authoritarian states may tolerate some social organizations based on traditional or special interests.
- Mobilization: Authoritarian states lack the power to mobilize the entire population in pursuit of national goals, and their actions are usually within relatively predictable limits. Totalitarian states, however, have the capacity to mobilize the entire population and can undertake large-scale actions without as many predictable limits.
In summary, authoritarianism is a system where the government has absolute political power and controls the political sphere, but it allows some private autonomy to its citizens. Totalitarianism, on the other hand, is a system where the government seeks to control every aspect of its citizens' lives, including their thoughts, actions, and social interactions, and has a highly developed guiding ideology.
Comparative Table: Totalitarianism vs Authoritarianism
Here is a table comparing the differences between totalitarianism and authoritarianism:
Feature | Totalitarianism | Authoritarianism |
---|---|---|
Definition | A form of government that seeks to control every aspect of the lives of its citizens, including their thoughts and beliefs. | A form of government where the ruler or government has absolute political power and controls most aspects of society, but allows some private life and social organizations to exist. |
Ideology | Totalitarian states usually have a highly developed guiding ideology that influences every aspect of society. | Authoritarian states may not have a well-defined ideology and focus more on individual power. |
Social Organizations | Totalitarian states suppress traditional social organizations and do not tolerate any competing organizations. | Authoritarian states may tolerate some social organizations based on traditional or special interests, as long as they do not challenge the ruling authority. |
Mobilization | Totalitarian states have the power to mobilize the entire population in pursuit of national goals. | Authoritarian states lack the power to mobilize the entire population and any actions undertaken by the state are usually within relatively predictable limits. |
Examples | Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany, Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union. | Louis XIV of France, President Mubarak of Egypt. |
In summary, totalitarianism is a more extreme form of authoritarianism, seeking to control every aspect of its citizens' lives, including their thoughts and beliefs. In contrast, authoritarianism focuses on absolute political power, allowing some private life and social organizations to exist. Totalitarian states usually have a well-defined ideology, while authoritarian states may not.
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