Authoritarianism and totalitarianism
Authoritarianism is used to describe forms of government where the citizen is subject to state authority in many aspects of their life, including many that other political philosophies would see as matters for personal choice.
Totalitarianism is a form of government in which the citizen is totally subject to absolute state authority in all aspects of day-to-day life. The term was created by Hannah Arendt in order to illustrate the commonalities between Nazism and Stalinism. It has also been used to include all fascist and communist regimes, although some would characterize some fascist regimes, such as Franco's Spain, and some communist regimes, such as China under Deng Xiaoping, as more authoritarian than totalitarian. Most people consider totalitarianism to be the extreme case of authoritarianism.
Totalitarian governments are often dictatorships. The terms totalitarian democracy and totalitarian republic have also been used. This classification results from the fact that totalitarian regimes are generally popular, at least at the beginning, and their ideological justification comes from the state acting on behalf of the people.
Most political scientists believe that totalitarian regimes were rare before the 20th century as the technological means and ideological justifications for controlling large numbers of people did not exist.
Some political analysts, notably Jean Kirkpatrick, make a distinction between totalitarianism and authoritarianism. Both types of governments can be extremely brutal to political opponents. However, in an authoritarian government, the government's efforts are directed at those who are considered political opponents, and the government has neither the will or often the means to control every aspect of an individual's life. In a totalitarian system, ideology requires that every aspect of an individual's life be subordinate to the state.
In some political philosophies such as libertarianism, totalitarianism is regarded as the most extreme form of statism. However, other political philosophers disagree with this analysis as it implies that totalitarianism can come into being through a slow and gradual increase from an operational government, while totalitarian regimes almost uniformly come into being as a result of a revolution which replaces what is generally regarded as an ineffective government.
Some religious Fundamentalist regimes, such as those found in Iran have sometimes been described as totalitarian.
See also: Gleichschaltung, Stalinism, communism, fascism, single-party state
An alternative definition of authoritariansm
Authoritarianism used to describe a leadership (government) which is ruled by a small select/elite group (perhaps just one person) which makes all important decisions for the community (country).
The distinction between authoritarianism and totalitarianism is slight, however authoritarian leaderships are thought of as being much more benevolent, less oppressive.
Countries ruled by authoritarianism can be successful. One of the most successful countries in the world, Singapore is ruled by authoritarianism. In Singapore's case, justification was given to its strict social behavior laws as "a way to force civility onto a third-world country", which it was at the time of its separation from Malaysia.
Another country once considered authoritarian in this sense was Spain, under Franco. Some considered Totalitarian are Cuba and North Korea.