Totalitarianism vs. Absolutism — What's the Difference?

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.

A political theory holding that all power should be vested in one ruler or other authority.

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 form of government in which all power is vested in a single ruler or other authority.

A practitioner or supporter of such a government.

An absolute doctrine, principle, or standard.

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

(theology) Doctrine of preordination; doctrine of absolute decrees; doctrine that God acts in an absolute manner.

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

The principles or practice of absolute or arbitrary government; despotism.

The principle of complete and unrestricted power in government

(philosophy) Belief in a metaphysical absolute; belief in Absolute.

Positiveness; the state of being absolute.

(rare) The characteristic of being absolute in nature or scope; absoluteness.

The state of being absolute; the system or doctrine of the absolute; the principles or practice of absolute or arbitrary government; despotism.

Doctrine of absolute decrees.

Dominance through threat of punishment and violence

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

The principle of complete and unrestricted power in government

The doctrine of an absolute being