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Difference Between Democracy and Totalitarianism

Democracy vs Totalitarianism

Democracy and Totalitarianism are two concepts that differ from each other to a great extent. Democracy is a form of government in which all the citizens have an equal say in matters concerning their lives. On the other hand totalitarianism is a political system wherein a single person bestowed with all powers recognizes no limit to his powers. Totalitarianism aims at regulating all aspects of public and private life.

Democracy is the rule of the people whereas totalitarianism is the rule of a single powerful person. This is one of the main differences between the two political systems called democracy and totalitarianism.

Totalitarianism is often described by the political pundits as a combination of ideology and authoritarianism which consists in recognizing limits on the powers of individual citizens in taking decision. Thus totalitarianism is very much the opposite of democracy when it comes to its concept.

Every vote cast in a democratic country has equal weight and it is not the case with totalitarianism. The freedom of citizens is totally secured in democracy whereas the freedom of citizens is not secured in the case of totalitarianism. On the other hand totalitarian form of government imposes restriction of speech, mass surveillance and use of other limiting powers on the citizens.

On the contrary democracy does not impose restriction of speech on the citizens. On the other hand it does not curb the power and the decision making right of the individual citizen. In democracy citizens have great share in state decision making whereas in totalitarianism the single person with whom the power lies alone is bestowed with the power of state decision speaking.

All citizens are considered equal before law in the case of democracy. The question of equality of citizens does not arise at all in totalitarianism. These are the differences between democracy and totalitarianism.