Totalitarianism is a kind of political system that denies individual freedom.

Totalitarian has a
strong central rule that strictly controls and directs all aspects of individual life through
compulsion and repression. According to Goldfarb (1989), “the neologism
totalitarianism was coined to name a monstrous human creation and a tragic set of
human experiences.” (p. 5). It has always been a matter of debate despite all the bad
things that this system has, how totalitarian regimes can control public life through
language. How is this resisted? From my perspective, totalitarian regimes employ
propaganda, and surveillance of information as strategies to control public through
language, while resistance to it manifest through media, and international solidarity.

Propaganda and surveillance of information act as strategies for totalitarian to control

public through language. To begin with, totalitarian regimes make public opinions in
their favor and suppress opposing opinions through propaganda. For instance, Goldfarb
(1989) stated, “censorship and propaganda not only control perception but distort it in
complicated ways. ” (p. 19). Soviet regimes as a totalitarian regimes in 1922 used
propaganda to control the public, such as Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, and others,
each consider propaganda as a tool of controlling people. Also, totalitarian regimes
keep an eyes on communication channels, and use surveillance technologies to
track individuals' activities to suppress any opposition. For example, Goldfarb (1989)
stated, “ One of the special modern features of totalitarian regimes is the use of
surveillance.” (p.14). The totalitarian regime under the Kim dynasty in North Korea
maintains control over communication channels in 1948 which created an atmosphere
of fear, discouraging dissent among people.

Media, and international solidarity act as a tool to resist against totalitarian regimes. To
begin, underground media act as a powerful tool to resist against totalitarian. For
instance, Dayan & Katz (1992) mentioned, “ when media events are seen as a response
to prior events or to social crisis, the link to public opinion is evident.” (p.20)
Independent journalists, activists, and citizens create underground media outlets to
provide truth news about totalitarian regimes. For instance, In China, underground
media has been used as a means of resistance against totalitarian regimes in 1949, and .
Independent social media channels have emerged as a path to share uncensored
information. Furthermore, international solidarity act as a means to resist against
totalitarian regimes. For instance, Goldfarb (1989) mentioned, “ Solidarity built upon
this experience in August of 1980. It sought to represent society against the totalitarian
order.” (p. 22). International solidarity tries to raise awareness about human rights
abuses, political repression, and authoritarian practices within totalitarian regimes, and
by bringing attention to these issues on a global scale, solidarity movements put
pressure on the regime to change its behavior, such as the international solidarity
movement against the apartheid regime in South Africa in 1948 was successful.
In conclusion, totalitarian regimes can have control over public life through language by
employing strategies such as propaganda and surveillance of information to control
public opinion, and trick their activities to maintain the totalitarian regimes. However,
resistance to this control manifests through media and international solidarity.
Underground media manifest the uncensored information which can put pressure on
totalitarian regimes. Meanwhile, international solidarity movements raise awareness
and put pressure on totalitarian regimes to address human rights abuses and political
repression. Overall, removing totalitarian regimes remains challenging, but resistance
of media and other actions offer hope for liberated regimes.

Goldfarb, J. (1989). Beyond Glasnost: The Post-Totalitarian Mind. University of Chicago

Press.

Katz, E. & Dayan, D, (1992). Media Events: The Live of Broadcasting of History.
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