hannah arendt's the origins of totalitarianism

The masses grew out of a highly atomized society. When large swathes of the population became superfluous and unable to participate in labor, they were effectively ejected from class society and turned into the classless “masses.” The breakdown of the class system also meant the breakdown of the party system, since parties had represented class interests in the preceding half-century. According to Arendt, it was the result of the breakdown of the class system in Europe. But Arendt argues that this was not merely a 'mistake' on the part of the masses. Totalitarian movements seemed to rise to power through democratic means before dissolving democracy itself. Second, it showed that, contrary to popular belief, the masses were neither neutral nor inconsequential and could be harnessed for the furtherance of totalitarian ideologies.

First, it showed that the majority of people did not take part in government, and that a minority is actually actively controlling politics. According to Arendt, two “illusions” of democracy were revealed by the totalitarian movements’ organization of the masses (312). The totalitarian movement aims to organize the masses, and in fact totalitarian rule is only possible in countries with a large superfluous mass. As soon as the movement stops, it becomes completely irrelevant to those who once followed it in mass. A totalitarian movement is only animated by its constant motion, and the fanaticized members identify completely with this movement. Arendt chalks this up to the fickleness of the masses that totalitarian movements harness and what she calls the “motion-mania” of the movement itself. She begins with the more well-known aspect of totalitarianism, the totalitarian leaders, who are characterized by their fame and its curious impermanence. With all the historical pieces in place, Arendt finally begins her analysis of totalitarianism itself.

Hannah arendt's the origins of totalitarianism