Democracy, Totalitarianism and Authotarianism


I.    Political Democracy

    A.    Foundations of Democracy

        1.    Popular Participation -- Direct and Indirect

        2.    Limited Government

        3.    Rule of Law

        4.    Majority Rule with Minority Rights

        5.    Legitimacy Results from Consent of the Governed

        6.    Political Equality

        7.    Frequent Contested Elections

            a.     Popular Representation

            b.     Popular Consultation

        8.    Free Media

    B.    Preconditions

        1.    Cultural Traditions of Individual Freedom, Worth

                and Responsibility

        2.    Acceptable Levels of Material Wealth

        3.    Advanced Educational Levels

        4.    General Consensus on socio-political-economic "Rules

                of the Game"

    C.    The Challenge of "Substantive Democracy"

        1.    Demands for Economic Equality

        2.    Demands for Social Equality

II.    Totalitarianism

    A.    Essential Elements

        1.    Global Ideology - A TRUTH For All Time

        2.    Single Party and Single Leader

        3.    Organized Terror

        4.    Controlled Communications

        5.    Controlled Weapons

        6.    Controlled Economy

        7.    Controlled Society

        8.    A Real or Created "Devil" Figure

        9.    Fanaticism

        10.  Militarism

    B.    Preconditions

        1.    Social Unrest and Instability

        2.    Widespread Popular Fear and Hatred

        3.    Weakness in Government to be Overthrown

        4.    Organized Revolution

III.    Authotarianism

    A.    Essential Elements

        1.    Single Party Dominance

        2.    Repressive Policies

        3.    Limited Tyranny

    B.    Presence in Emerging Nation-States

    C.    Recent Tendencies to Democratize


Key Websites

World Political Parties

Journal of Democracy

Iraq's Totalitarian Leaders

Hitler Biography

World Factbook - CIA