- Advantages of totalitarianism
- 1- Quick decision making
- 2- Concentration of resources to achieve a goal
- Disadvantages
- 3- Abuse of power
- 4- Restriction of personal freedoms
- References
The totalitarianism has advantages and disadvantages to the same as other forms of government. A totalitarian regime is one that exercises almost total control of all aspects of citizen life and, unlike a dictatorship, establishes a central ideology.
Among the characteristics of this type of regime, it stands out that it is a one-party government. This party is in turn controlled by a dictator and the economy is centralized.
In addition, the media are regulated through censorship and propaganda, armies and weapons. To achieve these objectives, a secret police is available that uses terrorist tactics to dominate the citizens.
Advantages of totalitarianism
1- Quick decision making
In a totalitarian system, leadership is obtained by inheritance or by force, therefore it is not subject to elections or popular vote. So, decision-making flows from the top down, and what is imposed is the vision or interests of the ruler.
These regimes do not present the same difficulty as democratic systems that tend to be slow in this regard, since every decision must be debated and agreed upon by consensus.
In totalitarianism, as the resolutions depend on a single individual or the ruling elite, decisions are made very quickly.
2- Concentration of resources to achieve a goal
A totalitarian state sets itself as its goal some special objective, such as industrialization or economic independence, to the exclusion of all the others.
Hitler saluting officers
To achieve this objective, all resources are made available regardless of cost, and everything that could interfere in its achievement is rejected.
All this results in the generation of an ideology that explains everything in terms of the proposed goal.
As there is no dissent and internal political differences are not allowed, progress can be made towards consolidating the outlined purpose.
The fact that there are no elections also ensures that there is continuity in the policies designed to meet that goal.
Disadvantages
3- Abuse of power
A totalitarian regime concentrates power in a few hands, unlike democratic systems. In the latter, power is distributed among the people. For that reason, in totalitarianism there is a lower probability that abuses will be avoided in its exercise.
In totalitarian systems there are no regular mechanisms that people can use to remove leaders who misuse power from office.
Neither is it allowed to demonstrate people's dissatisfaction with the decisions made, leaving more room for abuses of authority to occur.
4- Restriction of personal freedoms
In a totalitarian system, personal freedom is highly restricted. Thus, the totalitarian government decides what people can say or write. If there are unions, churches or parties, they decide which one to join.
Mao proclaiming the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949
This control extends to where people must live, what work they must do, whether citizens can travel within or outside the country, what goods they can find in stores, and what goods are allowed to be bought and sold.
References
- Cernak, L. 2011. Totalitarianism. Minnesota: ABDO.
- Asgary NH, Frutos-Bencze, D. and Samii MV (2015). Foundations of Global Business: A Systems Approach. North Carolina: IAP.
- Totalitarianism. (2017, August 16). Encyclopædia Britannica. Recovered from britannica.com.
- Bowie, NE and Simon, RL (1998). The Individual and the Political Order: An Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield.
- Manboah Rockson, JK (2016). Politics & the Struggle for Democracy in Ghana: An Introduction to Political Science. Africa: Partridge Publishing.