History glossary
Totalitarianism
a form of rule where the state tries to control politics, society, culture, information, and private life.
- Category
- Political system
What it means
Totalitarian regimes aim for deeper control than ordinary dictatorships. They use one-party rule, police terror, censorship, propaganda, mass organizations, ideology, and surveillance to reshape society and eliminate independent opposition.
Related terms
Stories using this term
Nazi Germany
From Weimar collapse to WWII, Nazi Germany imposed totalitarian rule, expansion, and genocide.
The Kim Dynasty
North Korea’s Kim dynasty built a nuclear-armed regime, maintaining power through crises and control.
The Soviets
From revolution to superpower, the Soviet Union rose, struggled internally, and collapsed in 1991.
