Totalitarianism vs. Authoritarianism — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 29, 2024
Totalitarianism seeks control over public and private life, while authoritarianism concentrates on political power, often allowing private life freedom.
Difference Between Totalitarianism and Authoritarianism
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Totalitarian regimes aim for complete control over both the public and private spheres of life, using propaganda, surveillance, and political repression to maintain authority. On the other hand, authoritarianism focuses on the concentration of political power in the hands of a leader or a small elite without seeking to control every aspect of life.
Totalitarian governments often employ extensive propaganda campaigns to shape public opinion and justify their rule, whereas authoritarian regimes might use propaganda to a lesser extent, primarily focusing on suppressing opposition and controlling public discourse without fully mobilizing society towards any specific ideological goal.
In a totalitarian state, the government seeks to control nearly all aspects of society, including the economy, education, art, and personal beliefs, aiming to mold citizens into a uniform mass that supports the regime's goals. Conversely, authoritarian states are more concerned with maintaining power through political and military control, often allowing a degree of economic and social freedom as long as it does not challenge the authority of the state.
Totalitarian systems are characterized by a single party or leader with a specific ideology that seeks to reshape society entirely according to that vision. Authoritarian regimes, while they may also be ruled by a single party or leader, typically do not have the ambition or ideological motivation to transform society fundamentally but rather focus on preventing opposition to their rule.
The distinction between totalitarianism and authoritarianism also lies in the level of social and cultural control exerted. Totalitarian regimes often attempt to erase traditional social structures and replace them with new ones based on their ideological goals, while authoritarian regimes might preserve traditional structures as long as they support or do not threaten the state’s authority.
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Comparison Chart
Focus of Control
Public and private life
Political power, less control over private life
Use of Propaganda
Extensive, to mobilize society
Used to suppress opposition
Ideological Goals
Aims to reshape society entirely
Lacks ambition to transform society
Economic and Social Control
Control over economy and culture
Allows economic and social freedoms
Political Structure
Often a single party or leader with an ideology
Single leader or elite without complete societal mobilization
Compare with Definitions
Totalitarianism
Aims to reshape society according to a specific vision.
Totalitarian regimes may enforce uniformity in public expression and belief.
Authoritarianism
Might use propaganda, but less extensively than totalitarian regimes.
Authoritarian governments control media to prevent opposition.
Totalitarianism
Employs propaganda to mobilize society towards its goals.
Totalitarian states use media to shape public opinion.
Authoritarianism
Concentrates political power without full societal control.
Authoritarian leaders often suppress political dissent.
Totalitarianism
Controls economy, education, and personal beliefs.
Totalitarian governments dictate educational content to align with official ideology.
Authoritarianism
Typically lacks a goal of complete societal transformation.
Authoritarian regimes maintain power without drastically changing societal structures.
Totalitarianism
A system seeking complete control over public and private life.
In totalitarian regimes, surveillance is pervasive.
Authoritarianism
Allows a degree of economic and social freedom.
In authoritarian states, private businesses may operate with some autonomy.
Totalitarianism
Characterized by a single party or leader with a clear ideology.
In a totalitarian system, the ruling party’s ideology is considered the ultimate truth.
Authoritarianism
Can preserve traditional social structures.
Authoritarian systems might support traditional values that bolster the state’s authority.
Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism is a concept for a form of government or political system that prohibits opposition parties, restricts individual opposition to the state and its claims, and exercises an extremely high degree of control over public and private life. It is regarded as the most extreme and complete form of authoritarianism.
Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism is a form of government characterized by the rejection of political plurality, the use of a strong central power to preserve the political status quo, and reductions in the rule of law, separation of powers, and democratic voting. Political scientists have created many typologies describing variations of authoritarian forms of government.
Totalitarianism
Of, relating to, being, or imposing a form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life, the individual is subordinated to the state, and opposing political and cultural expression is suppressed
"A totalitarian regime crushes all autonomous institutions in its drive to seize the human soul" (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.).
Authoritarianism
Characterized by or favoring absolute obedience to authority, as against individual freedom
An authoritarian regime.
Totalitarianism
A practitioner or supporter of such a government.
Authoritarianism
Tending to tell other people what to do in a peremptory or arrogant manner.
Totalitarianism
A system of government in which the people have virtually no authority and the state wields absolute control, for example, a dictatorship.
Authoritarianism
A form of government in which the governing body has absolute, or almost absolute, control. Typically this control is maintained by force, and little heed is paid to public opinion or the judicial system.
Totalitarianism
A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)
Authoritarianism
A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)
Totalitarianism
The principle of complete and unrestricted power in government
Common Curiosities
How do totalitarian and authoritarian regimes maintain control?
Totalitarian regimes use propaganda, surveillance, and control over public and private life, whereas authoritarian regimes rely more on political repression and may allow some social and economic freedoms.
Do totalitarian and authoritarian regimes allow opposition?
Both regimes typically suppress opposition, but totalitarianism aims to eliminate it entirely, often through more extreme measures.
How do citizens resist in totalitarian and authoritarian regimes?
Resistance can be more difficult in totalitarian regimes due to extensive surveillance and control, but in both types, underground movements, and external pressures can play a role in opposing the regime.
Can an authoritarian regime become totalitarian?
Yes, an authoritarian regime can evolve into a totalitarian state if it begins to seek control over all aspects of society and employs extensive propaganda and surveillance.
What role does ideology play in totalitarian and authoritarian regimes?
Ideology is central to totalitarian regimes, driving their goal to reshape society, while authoritarian regimes may not be ideologically driven and focus more on maintaining power.
Are there any benefits to living under an authoritarian regime compared to a totalitarian one?
While neither is ideal for personal freedoms, authoritarian regimes might offer more economic and social freedoms than totalitarian regimes, which seek to control all aspects of life.
What is the main difference between totalitarianism and authoritarianism?
The main difference is in the scope of control: totalitarianism seeks to control all aspects of life, while authoritarianism focuses on political power, often allowing more personal freedoms.
Can there be economic freedom in a totalitarian state?
Economic freedom is severely restricted in totalitarian states, as the government often controls or heavily regulates the economy to align with its goals.
Can democracy emerge from totalitarian or authoritarian regimes?
Yes, transitions to democracy have occurred from both types of regimes, often through internal reform, external pressure, or popular uprisings, though the process can be complex and challenging.
Is censorship common in both totalitarian and authoritarian regimes?
Yes, both regimes employ censorship to control information and suppress dissent, though the extent and methods may vary.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
