How did the authoritarianism practiced before the 20th century differ from the totalitarianism that arose during the 20th century?
1 Answer
Authoritarians of the past needed people to play roles to make a stable society. Modern authoritarians need loyalty and obedience to a cause, Ideology, Nation and/or personality.
Explanation:
Authoritarians like Kings, Emperors and other hereditary nobility needed agricultural workers to till the land to support the Monarchy's lifestyle since ancient times. Merchants, Craftspeople, Soldiers, Farmers, Clergy and the like all had a place and role in the Society.
The Society's conflicts were managed by the Nobility for the whole Society. The Monarchy at their best had a strong sense of duty and discipline. The Class System developed over time so the Nobility were superior and the farmers and others were inferior and that was the way of the world. Loyalty was a very important virtue. Violence is channeled and controlled.
In Hereditary Monarchies there could be training for leadership. Sometimes this was successful. If a Monarch died without heir like Ivan the Terrible of Russia there could be great upheaval until another Monarchy got legitimacy, in this case the Romanov Dynasty.
Modern authoritarians are often military men who seize power or leaders who have particularly adept personalities to clear out all other rivals. There is often no class system to work in their favour since they can come from the same humble origins of their followers These dictators need develop loyal followers to function. They need their followers to "drink the cool-aid" and prove that they are loyal beyond question. These authoritarians often develop a cult of personality. Nationalism and Ideology are often involved. Mass killings can be part of the change or maintenance of government.
