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The Rise of the Total State and Total War

Felix Carter

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Published in Omnipotent Government: The Rise Of The Total State And Total War (Liberty Fund Library Of The Works Of Ludwig Von Mises)

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A History of the 20th Century

The 20th century was a time of unprecedented violence and upheaval. Two world wars, countless civil wars, and genocides claimed the lives of millions of people. The rise of the total state and total war was a major factor in this violence. This book examines the relationship between these two phenomena and explores their impact on society and culture.

Omnipotent Government: The Rise of the Total State and Total War (Liberty Fund Library of the Works of Ludwig von Mises)

by Suze Orman

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	684 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	293 pages

The Rise of the Total State

The term "total state" was first used in the 1920s to describe the fascist regimes in Italy and Germany. However, the concept of a total state can be traced back to the 19th century. In his book "The State" (1889),the German philosopher Friedrich Hegel argued that the state was the highest form of human organization and that it had the right to control every aspect of its citizens' lives.

The total state is a state that seeks to control every aspect of its citizens' lives. It does this through a combination of propaganda, terror, and violence. The total state is often associated with fascism and communism, but it can also exist in other forms.

The rise of the total state in the 20th century was due to a number of factors, including:

The rise of nationalism
The spread of industrialization
The development of new technologies of surveillance and control

Total War

Total war is a war that is fought without regard to the rules of war or the rights of non-combatants. Total war is often characterized by the use of mass bombing, scorched earth tactics, and genocide.

The first total war in history was the American Civil War (1861-1865). However, the concept of total war was fully developed during the First World War (1914-1918). The First World War was the first war in which the entire populations of the warring countries were mobilized for the war effort.

Total war had a devastating impact on society and culture. It led to the deaths of millions of people and the destruction of entire cities. It also undermined the liberal democratic order and created the conditions for the rise of fascism and communism.

The Relationship Between the Total State and Total War

The rise of the total state and total war were mutually reinforcing. The total state provided the infrastructure and the resources that made total war possible. Total war, in turn, strengthened the total state by giving it a sense of legitimacy and by creating a need for a strong central authority.

The relationship between the total state and total war was particularly pronounced in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. In these countries, the total state used total war to achieve its goals of conquest and domination. The result was two of the most destructive wars in history.

The Challenges to the Liberal Democratic Order

The rise of the total state and total war posed a major challenge to the liberal democratic order. Liberal democracy is based on the principles of individual liberty, limited government, and the rule of law. The total state and total war are the antithesis of these principles.

The liberal democratic order was able to survive the challenges of the 20th century, but it is still under threat today. The rise of authoritarian regimes in recent years is a reminder that the total state is not a thing of the past. The liberal democratic order must remain vigilant against the threats that it faces.

The rise of the total state and total war was one of the most significant developments of the 20th century. These phenomena had a profound impact on society and culture, and they continue to pose a challenge to the liberal democratic order today.

Omnipotent Government: The Rise of the Total State and Total War (Liberty Fund Library of the Works of Ludwig von Mises)

by Suze Orman

4.9 out of 5