Totalitarianism How do dictators gain & maintain power?

What is a Totalitarian government? Government in which one ruler has unlimited power & authority (aka: autocracy) Government in which one ruler has unlimited power & authority (aka: autocracy) Government controls the economy Government controls the economy Government controls the media (ex: newspapers) Government controls the media (ex: newspapers) Government uses a police force to create a sense of terror and violence Government uses a police force to create a sense of terror and violence

The people’s experience… Little Freedom Little Freedom Fear of Police Fear of Police Fear of Government Fear of Government No Right to Protest (Get killed or jailed) No Right to Protest (Get killed or jailed)

How do dictators gain & maintain power?

Life Before the Dictator When living conditions (especially the economy) are bad, people are willing to listen to a leader who promises a better life When living conditions (especially the economy) are bad, people are willing to listen to a leader who promises a better life

Propaganda Definition: One sided information Definition: One sided information Dictators use propaganda to make people believe that government is working for them. Dictators use propaganda to make people believe that government is working for them.

Terror & Fear Dictators create a police force that helps to keep them in power. Dictators create a police force that helps to keep them in power. When people are afraid of the police, they cannot act out against the government (aka: the dictator) When people are afraid of the police, they cannot act out against the government (aka: the dictator)

Violence Dictators kill anyone who opposes them or tries to challenge their authority Dictators kill anyone who opposes them or tries to challenge their authority

Progress & Improvements Sometimes dictators are able to improve peoples’ daily lives, which makes people loyal to the dictator Sometimes dictators are able to improve peoples’ daily lives, which makes people loyal to the dictator

Ideology Often, dictators put in place a new type of government or new ideas. Often, dictators put in place a new type of government or new ideas. The people believe in the new way of thinking, and this makes them loyal to the dictator. The people believe in the new way of thinking, and this makes them loyal to the dictator.

People who follow the dictator Many people get caught up in the ideas and beliefs of the dictator. Many people get caught up in the ideas and beliefs of the dictator. They believe in the dictator so strongly that they stop questioning whether what is going on is right or wrong. They believe in the dictator so strongly that they stop questioning whether what is going on is right or wrong.

Dictator Him/Herself Dictators often have charismatic (likeable) personalities. Dictators often have charismatic (likeable) personalities. They are good at giving speeches and convincing people to follow them. They are good at giving speeches and convincing people to follow them.