Stalin and the Totalitarian State

Totalitarian- An autocratic leader who has total control of his nation.

A totalitarian uses tricks [propaganda] to get people to believe in their ideas, but mostly use terror and violence to force obedience and crush anyone who opposes them.

Theories of a Totalitarian State• Stalin used propaganda, censorship, and

terror to rule the Soviet Union. i.e. Hitler, Mussolini, Saddam Hussein.

Economics Politics Arts Religion Society

-Growth of industry

-Growth of military

-Low standard of living

-Shortage of foods and consumer

goods.

-One-party dictatorship

-Total government control of citizens

-Total government control of industry

and agriculture

-Use of propaganda to win government

support

-Censorship of books, music, and

art.

-Purpose of all art to praise communism

-Observation of artists, writer, an

musicians by secret police.

-Government war on religion

-Takeover of houses of worship

-Secret police control religious

worship

-Communist ideals replace religious

ideals

-Fear of secret police.

-An upper class of Communist Party

members

-Free education and health care

-Public transportation and

recreation

-Jobs for women

Economics• Growth of

industry

• Growth of military

• Low standard of living

• Shortage of foods and consumer goods.

Politics• One-party

dictatorship• Total government

control of citizens; police state—can jail or execute anyone

• Use of propaganda to win government support

Arts

• Censorship of books, music, and art.

• Purpose of all art to praise communism

• Observation of artists, writer, an musicians by secret police.

Religion

• Government war on religion

• Takeover of houses of worship

• Secret police control religious worship

• Communist ideals replace religious ideals

Society• Fear of secret police.• An upper class of

Communist Party members

• Free education and health care

• Public transportation and recreation

• Jobs for women