Censorship in authoritarian and totalitarian regimes II

1
Censorship in authoritarian and totalitarian
regimes II

• Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal

2
Totalitarian regimes

• Society is entirely controlled by the State, no
  elements of civil society exist
• The courts are politicised
• Mass society, no individualism accepted
• The State power is concentrated into the hands of
  a group or a person who cannot be removed from
  the power by using peaceful means
• A mobilising ideology justifies the power of the
  ruling elite

3
Authoritarian regimes

• The State controls society, but certain spheres
  of civil society (civic initiatives) exist
• The court system is independent from the State
• Ruling elite (person) uses ideology for
  justifying and supporting the regime, but limited
  opposition is possible

4
The Key Difference between Authoritarian and
Totalitarian regimes

• The acceptance / non-acceptance of the power of
  other social institutions to restrain the limits
  of power of the ruler(s).

5
Communism

• The final stage of human development
• People rule both politically and economically
• Classless society, no exploitation, no inequality
• Government not necessary

6
Fascism

• Lat. fasces
• Devotion to the state, nation and a powerful
  leader
• An absolute national unity
• Individual subjected to the interests of nation
• War is moral
• Mussolini 1932 The fascist State organises the
  nation, but leaves a sufficient margin of liberty
  to the individual the latter is deprived of all
  useless and possibly harmful freedom, but retains
  what is essential the deciding power in this
  question cannot be the individual, but the State
  alone.

7
Democracies and non-democratic governments 1939
BLUE BALKAN MONARCHIES LIGHT GREY
DEMOCRACIES DARK GREY AUTHORITARIAN BLACK
TOTALITARIAN
8
8 of the 14 Common Characteristics in Fascist
States

• Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
• Religion and Government are Intertwined
• Controlled Mass Media
• Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a
  Unifying Cause
• Obsession with Crime and Punishment
• Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
• Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
• Fraudulent Elections.

9
Fascism on War and Peace

• Fascism believes neither in the possibility nor
  the utility of perpetual peace. It thus
  repudiates the doctrine of Pacifism. War alone
  brings up to its highest tension all human energy
  and puts the stamp of nobility upon the peoples
  who have courage to meet it. (Mussolini)

10
Common Goals for Censorship

• Control of public appearance of the regime and
  deletion of all content that opposed or doubted
  its value.
• Constant check of public consensus of opinion
• Prevention of alternative information