Totalitarianism involves complete
governmental control over all aspects of social and political life in a society.
Both Nazi Germany under Hitler and the Soviet Union after the October
Revolution are classified as totalitarian states.
Political scientists have identified six basic characteristics of a totalitarian
state: 1) Large-scale use of ideology. 2) One-party system. 3) Control of
weapons. 4) Terror. 5) Control of the media. 6) Control of the economy.
Through such methods totalitarian governments have complete control over
people's destinies.
