Totalitarianism differs fundamentally from despotism, tyranny, and dictatorship, using more drastic means of total domination.

It destroys all social, legal, and political traditions of a country and creates entirely new political institutions.

Totalitarian regimes transform classes into masses, replace party systems with mass movements, shift power from the army to the police, and pursue world domination in foreign policy.

These governments arise from one-party systems but evolve into something radically different, defying traditional legal, moral, and utilitarian frameworks.

The crisis giving rise to totalitarianism is not just an external threat or linked solely to specific nations, and will not end with the death of leaders like Stalin or the fall of Nazi Germany.

Totalitarianism may represent a lasting predicament of modern times, emerging even after totalitarian regimes disappear.

There is a question whether totalitarianism is just a makeshift arrangement borrowing from tyranny and dictatorship, or if it has its own essence and nature comparable to classical forms of government.

If totalitarianism has its own essence, it must be based on a fundamental human experience never before forming the foundation of political order.

Historically, forms of government have been few and stable, classified since Greek times and lasting over millennia.

Traditional governments are based on the distinction between lawful and lawless, legitimate and arbitrary power.

Tyranny is characterized by arbitrary power wielded by one man, upheld by fear on both sides—ruler and ruled.

Totalitarianism, however, explodes this traditional alternative and does not fit into lawful or lawless categories.