Origins of Totalitarianism (#13, Totalitarianism in Power)

Roger Burkowitz, founder and academic director at the Hannah Arendt Center, welcomes participants to a virtual reading group focusing on 'The Origins of Totalitarianism.' He highlights the book's relevance to contemporary issues and outlines the schedule, including changes to the meeting dates. The group is currently discussing Chapter 12, which delves into totalitarianism in power, and emphasizes the importance of reading the footnotes for a deeper understanding.

The summary explains the paradox totalitarian regimes face when in power: they must create a tangible reality based on their fictional narrative while simultaneously maintaining instability to keep the masses engaged in the movement. This paradox leads to the pursuit of global domination and the elimination of all competing realities. The discussion contrasts totalitarianism with other forms of government, such as one-party rule, and emphasizes the unique challenges totalitarian regimes encounter in maintaining power.

This section delves into the nature of the totalitarian state, which is characterized by a disregard for immediate consequences and a focus on total domination. The totalitarian state is described as a facade, with real power vested in the movement and its organizational structure. The state's role is to make totalitarianism appear as a normal form of government, while the party drives the agenda of global rule and the elimination of freedom and spontaneity.

The role of the leader in a totalitarian regime is discussed, with the leader being the only trustworthy figure and the ultimate source of power. This leads to the atomization of both the masses and top bureaucrats, as no one can be trusted except the leader. The leader's whims dictate the direction of power, and the bureaucracy is designed to be flexible and chaotic, undermining any stable structure and fostering confusion.

The new concept of power in totalitarian regimes is explored, where power is derived from the force produced through organization. The totalitarian state's goal is not wealth or resources but the ability to organize people into a unit, creating a powerful movement. This power is not based on national interests but on the complete and total domination that disregards utilitarian motives and national self-interest.

The secret police are highlighted as the enforcers of terror within a totalitarian regime, using fear to control the population and maintain the regime's power. The concept of the 'objective enemy' is introduced, where individuals are targeted not for their actions but for their identity or tendencies, as defined by the government's policies. This arbitrary targeting negates human freedom and creates a pervasive sense of suspicion and fear.

The chapter discusses the concept of Total Domination, which aims to organize the diversity of human beings into a single entity, eradicating individuality and freedom. Totalitarianism seeks to replace normalcy with a fabricated reality where every person is reduced to a uniform identity. The concentration camps are presented as the ultimate expression of this domination, serving as laboratories for the experiment in eliminating human spontaneity and freedom.

The discussion concludes with the dangers of normality and the need to recognize the horrors of totalitarianism. It is argued that the only way to prevent such atrocities is through fear of their recurrence. The fear of concentration camps and the insights gained from understanding Total Domination should serve as a political yardstick to judge contemporary events and warn against the rise of totalitarian tendencies.

In the final paragraph, the discussion reflects on the nature of totalitarianism, its departure from the norms of society, and the challenges in understanding and preventing it. The conversation touches on the relevance of the book's themes to contemporary politics, the importance of maintaining fear and awareness of totalitarian dangers, and the need for a deeper understanding of the conditions that give rise to totalitarian movements and regimes.