19.1 – Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951)

In The Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt argues that totalitarianism is a new form of government that emerged in the 20th century. She defines totalitarianism as a system of government that seeks to control all aspects of human life, including the private sphere. Totalitarian regimes are characterized by their use of mass propaganda, terror, and violence to achieve their goals.

19.2 – Document from the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)

The Chinese Cultural Revolution was a period of political and social upheaval in China. During this time, the Red Guards, a group of young people loyal to Mao Zedong, carried out a campaign of violence and persecution against those they deemed to be enemies of the revolution.

19.3 – Document from the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin (1928-1953)

During his reign of power, Joseph Stalin established a totalitarian regime in the Soviet Union. Stalin used mass propaganda, terror, and violence to eliminate his political opponents and to enforce his rule.

Applying Arendt’s View of Totalitarianism

Hannah Arendt’s view of totalitarianism applies to all three of the documents. All three documents describe regimes that were characterized by their use of mass propaganda, terror, and violence to control their citizens.

The Chinese Cultural Revolution and the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin were both totalitarian regimes in the classic sense of the term. The Red Guards and the Soviet secret police were both used to terrorize and persecute those who were deemed to be enemies of the regime. Both regimes also used mass propaganda to control the flow of information and to create a cult of personality around their leaders.

The document from the Chinese Cultural Revolution is the one to which the term “totalitarian” seems most appropriate. This document describes a regime that was characterized by its extreme violence and its relentless persecution of its enemies. The document also describes the Red Guards, who were a group of young people who were fanatically loyal to Mao Zedong and who were willing to carry out his orders, no matter how violent or unjust.

The document from the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin is also a good example of a totalitarian regime. Stalin used the secret police to terrorize his citizens and to eliminate his political opponents. He also used mass propaganda to create a cult of personality around himself.

Role of Ordinary People

Ordinary people played a variety of roles in supporting and resisting the regimes described in the final three documents. Some ordinary people actively supported the regimes, while others resisted them in various ways.

In the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the Red Guards were ordinary people who were fanatically loyal to Mao Zedong. They played a key role in supporting the regime by carrying out its campaign of violence and persecution.

In the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin, many ordinary people were forced to support the regime for fear of being punished or killed. However, there were also many ordinary people who resisted the regime in various ways. For example, some people refused to join the Communist Party, while others secretly circulated anti-Stalinist literature.

Nature and Limits of State Power

The nature and limits of state power varied depending on the regime described in the final three documents.

In the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the state power was absolute. The Red Guards were able to do whatever they wanted without fear of punishment.

In the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin, the state power was also very strong. However, there were some limits to Stalin’s power. For example, the Soviet military was a powerful institution that Stalin had to respect.

Video Analysis

The video “Totalitarianism: The Ideology of the Absolute State” provides a good overview of the concept of totalitarianism. The video discusses the key features of totalitarian regimes, such as their use of mass propaganda, terror, and violence. The video also discusses the historical development of totalitarianism and the impact of totalitarianism on society.

Conclusion

The three primary sources and the video all provide insights into the nature and impact of totalitarianism. Totalitarianism is a dangerous form of government that can lead to widespread violence and suffering. It is important to be aware of the dangers of totalitarianism and to resist it whenever possible.