In this new unit, we will be studying a few totalitarian rulers. From our discussion and videos to date, how do totalitarian rulers get to hold so much power in a country?
often it is when countries are in a bad economic state or people are going through struggle. rulers often get so much power because they give people hope and get them on a new way of life that is better than it was before which gives rulers so much power because people praise them as a way of thanks, and then by the time it is too late there is no stopping them because they have been given so much power and gotten people to think their way is right.
Totalitarian rulers often get their power by forming a group that supports them. In class we watched the short film called "The Wave" and it was a perfect example of how a ruler can gain total power by gaining a following. In the film, a teacher creates a club called The Wave and uses the student's desire to feel important or special to gain their power. The students wanted the feeling of superiority and like they had a true purpose and in turn gave up their will to think for themselves. This is very similar to how Adolf Hitler came to power as a totalitarian ruler. He promised the people of Germany revenge to the rest of the world, gained their support, and once he had it they couldn't turn back. This is how totalitarian rulers often gained power; by convincing people to follow them no matter what. -Gavin Meikle
Totalitarian Rulers gain there power by exploiting there citizens beliefs and morals or promising them something that is to good to be true. Giving them answers to all their problem. Totalitarian rulers rise because people want to be controlled at times and by the time they realize they don't want to be controlled it is too late to stop by themselves.
Totalitarian rulers take advantage of certain groups within the people to grow their power, typically the uneducated. They project themselves as the strongest leader who can be the only person to solve the problems faced by individual people. They portray physical strength and high intelligence. For example, the leader of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedw, is often seen racing horses, lifting heavy weights, doing donuts around an active volcano, and shooting targets while riding a bike. In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, their former leader Kim Il Sung is said to have been able to drive at the age of 3, and was able to walk on rainbows. Totalitarian leaders also use military strength. Vladimir Putin often displays the Russian Military strength and uses war to grow his popularity among people in his country. They may use the military and stage a coup or they may use a group of highly motivated individuals. Once they do get the power, they will work hard to keep it by releasing a reign of terror, where any perceived opposition is destroyed along with some powerful loyalists who betrayed previous rulers and any viable alternatives to the leader. Once the power is in their hands, they must attempt to keep people from even speaking out against the new regime in their own homes by policing free speech, particularly through the people themselves who will isolate and deal with any disloyal people. Children must be indoctrinated, and they will be taught to worship their current ruler and hate their historical figures. Monuments and all recognition of any order other than the one they are currently in are destroyed. It soon becomes difficult to think anything the powerful ruler does not want you to think. Patriotic rituals like singing an anthem are always connected to their leader. For example, in the former anthem of the USSR, there are lines that reference both Joseph Stalin and Vladimir Lenin at several points. All of this leads to the people having no choice but to submit. Those who oppose will be suppressed before they can become powerful and the vast majority does not rebel as they cannot see themselves as being the slaves of the state. The people were offered things like discipline and strength and became slaves in the process. -AB
often it is when countries are in a bad economic state or people are going through struggle. rulers often get so much power because they give people hope and get them on a new way of life that is better than it was before which gives rulers so much power because people praise them as a way of thanks, and then by the time it is too late there is no stopping them because they have been given so much power and gotten people to think their way is right.
ReplyDeleteTotalitarian rulers often get their power by forming a group that supports them. In class we watched the short film called "The Wave" and it was a perfect example of how a ruler can gain total power by gaining a following. In the film, a teacher creates a club called The Wave and uses the student's desire to feel important or special to gain their power. The students wanted the feeling of superiority and like they had a true purpose and in turn gave up their will to think for themselves. This is very similar to how Adolf Hitler came to power as a totalitarian ruler. He promised the people of Germany revenge to the rest of the world, gained their support, and once he had it they couldn't turn back. This is how totalitarian rulers often gained power; by convincing people to follow them no matter what.
ReplyDelete-Gavin Meikle
Totalitarian Rulers gain there power by exploiting there citizens beliefs and morals or promising them something that is to good to be true. Giving them answers to all their problem. Totalitarian rulers rise because people want to be controlled at times and by the time they realize they don't want to be controlled it is too late to stop by themselves.
ReplyDeleteTotalitarian rulers take advantage of certain groups within the people to grow their power, typically the uneducated. They project themselves as the strongest leader who can be the only person to solve the problems faced by individual people. They portray physical strength and high intelligence. For example, the leader of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedw, is often seen racing horses, lifting heavy weights, doing donuts around an active volcano, and shooting targets while riding a bike. In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, their former leader Kim Il Sung is said to have been able to drive at the age of 3, and was able to walk on rainbows. Totalitarian leaders also use military strength. Vladimir Putin often displays the Russian Military strength and uses war to grow his popularity among people in his country. They may use the military and stage a coup or they may use a group of highly motivated individuals. Once they do get the power, they will work hard to keep it by releasing a reign of terror, where any perceived opposition is destroyed along with some powerful loyalists who betrayed previous rulers and any viable alternatives to the leader. Once the power is in their hands, they must attempt to keep people from even speaking out against the new regime in their own homes by policing free speech, particularly through the people themselves who will isolate and deal with any disloyal people. Children must be indoctrinated, and they will be taught to worship their current ruler and hate their historical figures. Monuments and all recognition of any order other than the one they are currently in are destroyed. It soon becomes difficult to think anything the powerful ruler does not want you to think. Patriotic rituals like singing an anthem are always connected to their leader. For example, in the former anthem of the USSR, there are lines that reference both Joseph Stalin and Vladimir Lenin at several points. All of this leads to the people having no choice but to submit. Those who oppose will be suppressed before they can become powerful and the vast majority does not rebel as they cannot see themselves as being the slaves of the state. The people were offered things like discipline and strength and became slaves in the process.
ReplyDelete-AB