Part 6/8:
Acknowledging the way in which “Nazi” is weaponized in political arguments can help clarify the actual issues at play, rather than reducing political discourse to name-calling.
Defining Totalitarianism
To accurately discuss Nazism without succumbing to modern political biases, it may be more effective to frame it within the context of totalitarianism. Key characteristics include centralized authority, militarism, the repression of individual freedoms, and the systematic elimination of political opposition. These elements apply to various totalitarian regimes, including Soviet communism and Italian fascism alongside Nazism.
However, there are distinctions among these regimes regarding their core ideologies, leading to further debate on where they belong on the political spectrum.