Mussolini Totalitarian Characteristics

Modern World History 2 has been the most difficult class for me this semester due to the massive workload. However, it has also been an interesting and educating experience. In this class, many historical key events and ideas were repeatedly discussed about which resulted in newfound knowledge for the students. Many of the topics discussed in class such as the causes of WWI, the events of WWII, and the effects of the Cold War all contained similar themes and were significant to history in their own ways, but the most important theme definitely has to be the usage of totalitarian traits throughout Europe. The development of totalitarianism by Stalin led to many other countries incorporating the traits into their own governments. Totalitarianism …show more content…
In Italy, Mussolini had established a Fascist dictatorship that stressed the importance of military power, extreme nationalism, and wholehearted obedience to the leader. In order to make every citizen follow these Fascist ideals, Mussolini had to use indoctrination and propaganda. According to our class notes, “children were indoctrinated or brainwashed with Fascist ideas at early age in education” (Dove, Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin Chart). Every citizen was indoctrinated to believe that there should be only one ruler and absolute power should be given to only that individual. Giving total control of a country to a single individual has a great impact on every citizen because that person has the power to command others without opposition. Similar to Stalin’s usage of totalitarianism, this is also shown to be morally wrong since the citizens are being brainwashed into believing false information. They are forced to believe that in order to improve the country’s economical, political, and social state, they will need to give all the power to one trusted individual. These citizens are oblivious to the consequences that may occur if the leader becomes corrupted and only thirsts for power, which is why indoctrination is a misguided way to educate the people. Because totalitarianism placed such a huge impact on the citizens in Mussolini’s country, it proves to …show more content…
In Germany, Hitler established a dictatorship and also utilized the totalitarian traits during his rule. Totalitarianism played a huge role in the Holocaust since it allowed Hitler to influence the citizens with his ideas of Anti-Semitism and Social Darwinism through indoctrination and propaganda. Censorship was also used to censor or block any information that challenged the ideas of Hitler. The Holocaust perfectly exemplifies the dangers of totalitarianism as it was an extremely tragic event that ruined many relationships due to indoctrination and terror. As seen from the Swing Kids movie, many relationships are broken due to difference in beliefs. Thomas was indoctrinated when he enlisted as a Nazi to believe in Nazism while Peter, on the other hand, identified the reality of the Holocaust and how it negatively affected many innocent civilians. (Carter, “Swing Kids”) This resulted in the diminishing of their friendship since one believed Hitler was right while the other believed he was wrong. Thomas was also indoctrinated to the point where he decided to report his own father and send him away. The Swing Kids film clearly illustrates how totalitarianism can affect relationships negatively between individuals. Totalitarian traits such as indoctrination, propaganda, and censorship all created and supported false lies that spread