Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism in Europe

Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism

In Germany, Italy, and the USSR, authoritarian dictatorships came to power. In these regimes, power was concentrated in the hands of a supreme leader and one ruling political party. In some cases, these evolved into totalitarian regimes (a form of government in which the leader's control over the government and society was absolute).

Factors contributing to the rise of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes:

• The war had aroused nationalist feelings.
• The power of the state increased with state intervention in the economy and society during the crisis.
• New parties were formed that represented the working masses.

Characteristics of the regimes:

• The government was an authoritarian dictatorship.
• These regimes pursued an expansionist foreign policy to gain new territories.
• The state intervened in and controlled the economy.
• All classes of society were controlled by the regime.

The USSR: Stalinism

Stalinism was the system of totalitarian government established in the USSR when Stalin eliminated all possible political rivals and took control of the CPSU.

Characteristics:

• All political power was concentrated in the hands of Stalin.
• The economy was planned and controlled by the state.

Stalin introduced a series of five-year plans which aimed to achieve rapid industrialization. Stalin aimed to establish social equality, but there were still significant differences in social status and wealth.

Italian Fascism

Italian Fascism was the system of authoritarian government established by Benito Mussolini in Italy when he became head of the government in 1922. The constitutional monarchy of Victor Emmanuel III was badly affected by the post-war economic crisis. In 1921, Mussolini formed the National Fascist Party.

Mussolini transformed the democratic state into a dictatorship with the following measures:

• He transferred all power to himself.
• He established an autarky (a country with a self-sufficient and independent economy).

Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany was the system of dictatorship established by Adolf Hitler in Germany. It was a totalitarian regime that replaced the Weimar democratic republic. The triumph of totalitarianism in Germany can be explained by the difficult territorial and economic conditions following World War I.

In 1921, Hitler became the leader of the NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers' Party). After winning the elections in 1933, he established a dictatorship. In 1934, he proclaimed himself head of state and established the Third Reich. During the regime, there was significant economic development, but at the cost of individual freedom and human rights.