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Democracy vs. Totalitarianism — What's the Difference?

Democracy vs. Totalitarianism — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Democracy and Totalitarianism

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Democracy

Democracy (Greek: δημοκρατία, dēmokratiā, from dēmos 'people' and kratos 'rule') refers to a form of government in which the people either have the authority to choose their governing legislators, or the authority to decide on legislation. Who is considered part of the people and how authority is shared among or delegated by the people has changed over time and at different speeds in different countries, but more and more of the inhabitants of countries have generally been included.

Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism is a concept for a form of government or political system that prohibits opposition parties, restricts individual opposition to the state and its claims, and exercises an extremely high degree of control over public and private life. It is regarded as the most extreme and complete form of authoritarianism.

Democracy

Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.

Totalitarianism

Of, relating to, being, or imposing a form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life, the individual is subordinated to the state, and opposing political and cultural expression is suppressed
"A totalitarian regime crushes all autonomous institutions in its drive to seize the human soul" (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.).

Democracy

A political or social unit that has such a government.
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Totalitarianism

A practitioner or supporter of such a government.

Democracy

The common people, considered as the primary source of political power.

Totalitarianism

A system of government in which the people have virtually no authority and the state wields absolute control, for example, a dictatorship.

Democracy

Majority rule.

Totalitarianism

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

Democracy

The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.

Totalitarianism

The principle of complete and unrestricted power in government

Democracy

(uncountable) Rule by the people, especially as a form of government; either directly or through elected representatives (representative democracy).

Democracy

A government under the direct or representative rule of the people of its jurisdiction.

Democracy

(countable) A state with a democratic system of government.

Democracy

(uncountable) Belief in political freedom and equality; the "spirit of democracy".

Democracy

Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people.

Democracy

Government by popular representation; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but is indirectly exercised through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed; a constitutional representative government; a republic.

Democracy

Collectively, the people, regarded as the source of government.

Democracy

The principles and policy of the Democratic party, so called.

Democracy

The political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives

Democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Democracy

The doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group

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