Dictatorships - Why Do They Differ?
4 Types
What is Totalitarianism?
Totalitarianism is the type of government in which the people don't contain an individual identity. The government takes total control of society, and locks down on everything inside and out of the country. This may seem like a very malefic type of government, but it was actually encouraged by many because of its unique advantages. A totalitarian government, unlike a democracy, has the power to pass bills and get things done. However, that's where the disadvantage comes into play. The people don't have very much input in what the government can and cannot do, so it can basically go to all extremes without anyone to stop it. The reach of the government is limitless, because the people can't even attempt to persuade their decisions a certain way. After the conclusion of the Civil War in the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin took control and executed anyone who wasn't supporting the goals of the government. Although some people may support this government because of its ability to achieve goals quickly, most oppose it because of how dangerous it can be.
What is Communism?
Communism is closely related to totalitarianism, because they both focus on decreasing individual identity within the country. However, communism is a type of government that attempts to eliminate all social classes. It places control over businesses and industries in the hands of the state. It allows poor people to rise in the economy and hold as much power as people in the middle class. Communism opposes things like capitalism because it allows people to own their own businesses. Everything has to be run by the state, or it will allow a certain class to be superior to another. The main goal of a communist government is to eliminate distinct social classes and in result, give more power to the state. Vladmir Lenin became leader of the USSR after the Russian civil war broke out. He helped spread communist principles and encouraged communism as a way to help peasants.
What is Fascism?
Fascism is the type of government that promotes nationalism as a way to unite the country. The government has the power and the will to maintain a singular religion and intertwine it with the government. This may help unify the people and could quite possibly release any tension between the people and the government. Just like in a communism government, a fascism system will attempt to suppress labor unions and contain all control within the state. Any international activity could create a decrease in nationalism, so it is important for them to lock down on this activity and keep it within the country. Benito Mussolini was the leader of the fascist government in Italy, the first of its kind. He led constitutionally until 1925 when he became dictator. This was the beginning for all fascist governments in the future.
What is Nazism?
Nazism can be categorized as a form of fascism, as they share many similar qualities. Nazism was formed from the German Nazi Party, who promoted social hierarchy and superiority over the Jewish population. Hitler became known in the political society as powerful figure and eventually became the leader of the Nazi organization. He was the dictator of Germany and began plucking off the Jewish population. He believed in maintaining racial power, and he could achieve that goal by eliminating all Jews. This government didn't allow the people to have a say in what happened, and was very related to the other types. They share their similarities and differences, however, Hitler used more physical force in achieving the things he wanted.
Conclusion
All four of these types of governments share many characteristics and features. However, where and why they thrive can have different reasons. These government systems arise for different reasons because of geographical and political factors. Leaders like Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin have differing ideas as to how a government is supposed to work, but somehow, their governments can be similar. The people within these countries don't always like the way the government works, but it can be hard to tell which one is best, because the situation is always different from place to place.