What are the effects of living in a totalitarian society?

Answer 1

Excellent question. First it should be said that tyrannies did not initially have the connotation they have today. Often, tyrannies were the reuslt of an aristocrat (Eupatridi = "well born one") seizing power from an oligarchy with the support of the poorer and more numerous citizens. This was certainly the case in Athens. Pisistratus (an Eupatridi and war hero) first established his tyranny in 561 BCE by claiming he needed a body guard. He quickly took his bodyguard and took over the polis. Now, Pisistratus was backed by the poor thetes who lived in the hills, and he was ousted by the more wealthy people of the plains and people of the shore. To make a long story short Pisistratus reestablished himself and ruled as a very popular tryant. His rule is generally considered enlightened and ushered in an age of prosperity for Athens....... So why is a Tyranny bad? 1. A tyranny is by definition dependent on the abilities of one person - if that person is enlightened, is is good for the state but if that person is, well..... tyrannical things can get ugly. A great example: When pisistratus died his sons, Hippias and Hipparchus, took over the tyranny. Hipparchus was murdered by the angry lovers Harmodious and Aristogeiton, (it is a long, but interesting story) and Hipparchus became insanely worried that his power was in jeopardy.... This leads us to the second problem with tyranny. 2. A tyrant nessicarily must be concered with the maintance of his power over the needs of the state. In other words a tyrant is primarilly concered with his power and puts the needs of the state secondly. Sometimes these needs coincide - often they do not. 3. Another significant problem with tryanny needs to be understood in its historical context. In Ancient Greece (and indeed most of history), no distinction was made between church and state. This becomes important when we see the feeling of pride the Athenians had in their sacred institution of democracy. This pride and overall high morale led to better warriors, and more content citizens. At the same time, while the citizens could be happy with a tryanny for a while it quickly become oppressive..... why? 4. While a tyranny can be good with respect to the fact that they generally must initially be supported by the people, once a tyrant is in power, he, or his scion, need no nessicarily appease the people. This also makes a tryanny an inherently unstable form of government. 5. Finally, a tyranny is difficult to defend on ethical grounds. Many would agree that a government should rule with the consent of the governed. An arguemnt could be made that the ends justify the means, but a tyranny is just not an effective longtern form of government. What a tyranny was good for was to aid the transition from oligarchy to democracy. After Hippais was removed by the Spartain king Cleomenes and the exhiled Alchmaeonid family, Cleisthenes came to power and essentially laid the framework for Athenian democracy. The tyrannic behaviour of Hippias gave the Athenians a deep hatred for tyranny and paved the way for its connotations today. Also be carefull to distiguish a tyranny from a totalitarian government. The ancients did not have the political mechanisms or technology to implemet a totalitarian government.

Answer 2

A "benign Dictatorship" is one that allows for actions not hampered by representative government by one who supposedly acts in the best interests of the nation and its people. Though there are most likely instances of this happening, it has built in shortcomings. Will the rule always be benign? How would the ruled counter decisions not in their interests? What about succession to power?

Answer 3

There are many advantages of living under a totalitarian government. These advantages include a fully planned out health care system, a well funded military, and a strong economy.

Answer 4

what are the major advantages of a totalitrian?

Answer 5

A lack of individual freedoms.

Answer 6

Uv got it