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Ideology plays a very important role in Totalitarian Political Systems. Fascist dictators and communist parties laid out their views on the world, what should be done to make the world a better place and how it should be done. Fascist dictators and communist parties used totalitarian force to attempt to achieve their ideologies.
In this essay I aim to give a brief explanation of the term Ideology, how it emerged in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and what it came to mean down to the present day. I will give an account of totalitarian political systems and what they have come to represent and finally I will describe the role Ideology played in the communist states of Eastern Europe whom under Lenin and Stalin adopted the works of Carl Marx and turned it into a totalitarian regime, in Fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini and in Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler.
The term Ideology was first used by Destutt de Tracey (174-186) who was a French philosopher, for Destutt de Tracey ideology was a 'science of ideas' that set about to uncover where thought and ideas came from. (Heywood, Andrew 00 p4)
For Carl Marx an Ideology perpetrates ineffectiveness, Illusion and reality. It conjugates a system of false consciousness that prevents the working class from recognising their exploitation by the owners of capital. (Vincent, Andrew 15 p4)
An Ideology is a set of ideas that provides the background for political action. Ideologists give their view of the world the way in which it should be changed and the Ideal world that should emerge. Totalitarian regimes refuse to let their ideologies be challenged or seen as anything but the truth. It could be said that Liberalism is an Ideology of the western world that contains a broad system of values and beliefs but liberalism is committed to freedom and democracy so it is not usually seen as an Ideology. There is a belief in the western world that Liberalism is a truthful not an Ideological political system, (Vincent, Andrew 1 p18) whereas Marxists sees Liberal capitalist societies as an Ideology of the bourgeoisie that exploits the proletariat and fosters a sense of false consciousness that prevents the proletariat from recognising their own exploitation.
A totalitarian Regime is one that seeks total control of the society within which it exists, Totalitarian regimes tolerate no opposition of their ideologies and demand active support for them, when we think of totalitarian regimes it is communism and fascism that we bring to mind. Communism aimed to create a classless society and overthrow the capitalist west but in reality the communist parties protected their position through total control of society. (Hague, Rod and Harrop, Martin 001p4) Fascism was an anti liberal movement that sought to create a warlike state with one sovereign all-powerful leader to which all citizens should show their commitment. (Hague, Rod and Harrop, Martin 001 p4)
In the totalitarian political systems dictators see the world, as they want to see it not as it is. Communism and Fascism seek not only to interpret the world but also to change it. (Minogue, Kenneth. On Identifying Ideology 180 p1) Ideological political systems point out the evil that is said to exist in the world and how to eradicate it. For Communists this evil is class structure and for Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler it is the existence of the Jewish race. Ideology in the totalitarian sense is a 'closed system of thought' that can not be challenged an 'instrument of social control to ensure compliance and subordination' (Heywood Andrew 00 p4)
Communism was an ideological movement that sought to overthrow the capitalist societies of the west. Communist parties dominated their society by controlling all aspects of it such as the media and elections, they changed the constitution as they saw fit and they allowed no opposition to their rule. Communist parties claimed to be acting in the interests of the proletariat class but they were more inclined to be a dictatorship that was solely concerned with eradicating private enterprise. Communism is based on the Ideological works of Carl Marx. In his writings Carl Marx mentioned an equal classless society. The communist USSR (Union of Soviet Social Republics) became the largest estate in the world. Vladimir Lenin believed that the communist parties should lead the proletariat into political action that would enhance their revoloutionary consciousness. (Hague, Rod and Harrop, Martin 001 p6) Lenin assumed that the communist parties knew the interests of the working class better than themselves. (Hague, Rod and Harrop, Martin 001 p6) It was this assumption that provided the basis for the monopoly communist parties held over its citizens. Communist parties had a powerful presence the state operated totally under their guidance and they tolerated no opposition to their Ideology. 'Stalin turned the USSR into a totalitarian dictatorship operating through systematic intimidation repression and terror' (Heywood Andrew 00 p56)
Fascist beliefs were 'fused together by the first world war and its aftermath' (Heywood Andrew 00 p5) Fascism in general revolted against western political thought. Fascist governments were anti liberalism and anti democracy. Fascism is am extreme form of nationalism it promotes war youth military movements and their views justified aggression and violence towards its citizens. (Browning, Gary K. 00 p7) Fascism is defined mostly by what it opposes. It is anti capitalist anti indivualism, anti communism etc. (Heywood, Andrew 00 p60) 'The Ideological status of fascism is controversial' fascism is an Ideology that consists of a broad range of themes. It is a 'reactionary Ideology'. It usually reacts against western progressive doctrines of thought. (Browning, Gary K. 17 p71) The power and force behind fascism tends to come from the emotional impact it exerts on its citizens. Fascist governments tend to have no compassion or reason and encourage brutal force, War was celebrated and all opponents of their regimes were dealt with violently.
The Ideological thought behind Mussolini's Fascist Italy were a number of combining Factors namely Syndicalism, a revolutionary trade union movement, Futurism, the glorification of modern Industry, Corporatism, the belief that trade unions and business should be incorporated into the system of government and briefly at the end of the regime racism under influence from nazi Germany. (Browning, Gary K. 17 p74) The Italian parliaments were demolished and were replaced by a system of representation through corporation. There was a system of rule by decree with Benito Mussolini as the supreme leader. ' The ideological distinctiveness of Italian Fascism was an elaborate version of the corporatist state' (Browning, Gary K. 17 p74)
In nazi Germany Racism was the main Ideological factor. Adolf Hitler was determined to achieve a true community of Aryans; this involved the persecution and planned eradication of the entire Jewish race (Browning, Gary K. 17 p7)
The ideological aims inspiring the nazi domination of society were the development
Of the racial power of the Aryans through internal purification and external
expansion through a series of wars. (Browning, Gary k. 17 p7)
In conclusion it is seen that ideology has come to mean different things to different groups of people with different Ideologies.
Liberalist thinkers of the western world see ideology as a mechanism for totalitarian force, to exercise power and violence over citizens while communists see liberal Capitalist societies as an ideology that represents the bourgeoisie and exploits the proletariat.
It is shown that Totalitarian states control all aspects of society. We see that communism developed from the works and ideologies of Carl Marx and aimed to create a classless society with an almost invisible state but in fact the communist parties once power was achieved protected their position through total control of society. Communist parties seeked to eradicate class structure and overthrow western capitalist society. We see how the communist parties exerted total control to force their ideologies on to their population they tolerated no opposition to their rule.
It is seen how Fascism in Italy under Benito Mussolini was an extreme version of nationalism and corporatism. In order for Mussolini to introduce his Ideologies he abolished democracy and parliament and assumed supreme leadership to which he tolerated no opposition. He demanded active support for his Ideologies and he actively supported war and violence.
In Germany we see how Racism was the main critique of Adolf Hitler's nazi society. He aimed to produce a nation of pure Aryans and to eradicate the entire Jewish population. He used violent force to implement his ideology and like his Italian counterpart Mussolini tolerated no opposition to his rule.
Overall we see how the leaders of Totalitarian Regimes and Political systems used force and violence to implement their Ideologies. Ideologies were the starting point for all totalitarian political systems.
Bibliography
Ashford, Barrie; Browning, Gary K.; Muggins, Richard; Rosamund, Ben. (17) Politics An Introduction. Second edition. London Routledge.
Heywood, Andrew (00) Politics Second Edition. Basingstoke Palgrave
Hague, Rod and Harrop, Martin. (001) Comparative Government and Politics An Introduction. Basingstoke Palgrave
Vincent, Andrew. (15) Modern political Ideologies Second edition. Oxford Blackwell publishers Ltd
Cranston, Maurice and Mair, Peter. (Eds) (180) Ideology and politics, Ideologue et politique. Europe European University Institute Please note that this sample paper on What role does Ideology play in totalitarian political systems? is for your review only. In order to eliminate any of the plagiarism issues, it is highly recommended that you do not use it for you own writing purposes. In case you experience difficulties with writing a well structured and accurately composed paper on What role does Ideology play in totalitarian political systems?, we are here to assist you.Your research papers on What role does Ideology play in totalitarian political systems? will be written from scratch, so you do not have to worry about its originality.
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