The Rise of Totalitarianism after WW1
The political and social unrests following WW1 resulted in a number of European nations embracing totalitarianism, which is regarded as one of the key causes of WW2. According to Havel and Keane (2016), totalitarianism offered the leaders the powered they needed to pursue their various military objectives devoid of any opposition in their nations. This implied that totalitarian regimes including Nazi Germany and Japan were able to carry out acts of violence alongside invasions while pursuing their various ambitious objectives of power acquisitions. In the end, such aggressions that were enforced by the totalitarian regimes led to the commencement of WW2.
The totalitarian dictatorships worked with the objective of realizing total control and obedience. Most of the dictators advanced ideologies that included religion so as to provide an exclusive truth along with a coherent portrait of the globe. After promising their followers the satisfaction of a valiant destiny, the dictators were able to appeal to the masses emotions and thereby gain their total support, and also stirred the hatred of the masses towards the imaginary enemies that were working to prevent them from attaining the promised destiny (Malinowski, 2015). Upon assuming power, leaders such as Adolf Hitler mobilized the resources of the nation including the military behind the struggle. Moreover, the dictatorial regimes also applied not only propaganda but also the various government instrument in enforcing ideological purity and loyalty amongst the followers. Also, through the use of diverse kinds of terror and coercion, the dictatorial regimes were able to suppress independent thought and also control all aspects of life. Individuals were made mere state instruments and the ideological machine’s cogs, even as those who dissented were not only vilified but also coerced into submission and eventually killed.
References
Havel, V., & Keane, J. (2016). The Power of the Powerless: Citizens Against the State in Central Eastern Europe: Citizens Against the State in Central Eastern Europe.
Malinowski, B. (2015). Freedom and civilization. Routledge.