key term - Totalitarianism

Definition

Totalitarianism is a political system in which the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life wherever possible. It involves the suppression of dissent, a centralized government, and often a single party rule.

Related terms

Authoritarianism:

A form of government characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms, but less controlling than totalitarianism.

Propaganda:

Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view, often employed under totalitarian regimes.

Police State: A state in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over social, economic, and political life, primarily through the power of an omnipresent police force