Totalitarianism,
Fascism, and
Communism
Mark Manbeck
Essential Question
 What
are the major similarities
and differences between
Totalitarianism, Fascism, and
Communism?
Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism—government that
dominates every aspect of life

A government of Total Control

Totalitarian leader is often
dynamic and persuasive
 Energetic,
Cult
active, forceful
of Personality *Later
Police State

Government uses police to spy on
and intimidate people
 Normally
 Police
to protect citizens
enforce the central
government’s policies
Education

Slanted education

Crucial to glorify leader and policies
 Propaganda
Propaganda and Censorship

Spread of Propaganda

Government controls all mass
media
 Crushes
opposing views
Scapegoats

Usually, religious or ethnic minorities
are “enemies of the state”
Totalitarian Leaders in the 20th Century
 Adolf
Hitler (Germany) 1933-1945
 Benito
Mussolini (Italy) 1925-1943
 Joseph
Stalin (Soviet Union) 1929-1953
 Kim
Il Sung (North Korea) 1948-1994
 Saddam
Hussein (Iraq) 1979-2003
Communism

Russia

Class Struggle

Revolution is the only way

All property is publicly owned
 NO
Private Property
Traditional Communism Refresher

Karl Marx

Bourgeoisie:
 New,

Industrial Elite
Proletariat:
 Workers

Bourgeoisie had political and economic power

Workers had the true power
Stalin (More Next Time)

Stalin aims to create Communist state in
Russia.
 He
began by destroying his enemies—
real and imagined.
Education

Government controls all education, from
early grades to college.

Children learn the virtues of the
Communist Party.

Teachers and students who challenge the
Party are punished.
Religious Persecution

Government attacks the Russian
Orthodox Church.

Magnificent churches and synagogues
are destroyed. Religious leaders are
killed.

People lose all personal rights and
freedoms.
Totalitarianism vs Communism
Totalitarianism
Communism
State is all-powerful
Communist Party is all-
State makes decisions
powerful
More Right Wing
Communist Party makes
decision
State Ownership
More Left Wing
Common Ownership
Fascism

Started in Italy, transferred to Germany

Fascism glorified action, violence, discipline,
and blind loyalty to the state.
 Pursued
territorial expansion through
warfare.
 Distrusted
reason and used emotion to their
advantage.

Nazism is a form of Fascism

"Italy wants peace and quiet, work
and calm. I will give these things
with love if possible and with force
if necessary." Benito Mussolini
Police State

Obsession with Security
 Fear
is motivation of Government over
population

Military Supremacy
Education

Disdain for Intellectuals and
Arts

Boys taught to be soldiers

Girls to be good mothers
Propaganda and Censorship

Powerful and Continuing Nationalism

Censoring enemies
Religion and Ethnicity

Identification of
Enemies/Scapegoats
 Unifies

the people
Religion and Government
are Intertwined

National Purity
 Racial
Purity
Fascism vs Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism
Individual Governs state
State makes decisions
Fascism
State Governed by Single
Political Party
Communication controlled by
state
Type of Government
Dictatorship
• The two are not mutually exclusive
• A fascist state is often ruled by a totalitarian leader
• Totalitarian state does not necessarily have to be fascist