Totalitarianism

totalitarianism, Mussolini, BenitoH. Roger-Violletform of government that theoretically permits no individual freedom and that seeks to subordinate all aspects of the individual’s life to the authority of the government. Italian dictator Benito Mussolini coined the term totalitario in the early 1920s to describe the new fascist state of Italy, which he further described as: “All within the state, none outside the state, none against the state.” By the beginning of World War II, “totalitarian” had become synonymous with absolute and oppressive single-party government.

Hitler, AdolfHulton Archive/Getty ImagesIn the broadest sense, totalitarianism is characterized by strong central rule that attempts to control and direct all aspects of ... (100 of 746 words)