The Origins of Totalitarianism
Hannah Arendt's first major work analyzing Nazism and Stalinism.
The book is structured as three essays—'Antisemitism', 'Imperialism', and 'Totalitarianism'—and argues that totalitarianism is a novel form of government differing essentially from despotism, tyranny, and dictatorship.
- field
- Political theory
- subject
- Nazism, Stalinism, totalitarianism
- known_for
- Introducing the concept of 'Radical Evil' and analyzing totalitarianism as a novel form of government
Reader's Guide
The Origins of Totalitarianism is significant for its argument that totalitarianism is a fundamentally new form of government, using terror against entire populations rather than just political opponents, and for its application of Kant's phrase 'Radical Evil' to the perpetrators. Arendt contends that totalitarianism in Germany was ultimately about terror and consistency, not solely the eradication of Jews. The work has been widely influential, placed on lists of the best books of the 20th century by Le Monde and the National Review, though it has also attracted criticism, notably from Bernard Wasserstein regarding Arendt's use of antisemitic sources.
Did You Know?
- Arendt argues that totalitarianism differs essentially from despotism, tyranny, and dictatorship because terror is used against entire populations.
- The book applies Kant's phrase 'Radical Evil' to the men who created and carried out totalitarian tyranny.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are The Origins of Totalitarianism's main structural components?
The book is organized into three distinct essays—Antisemitism, Imperialism, and Totalitarianism—each building toward her central argument about how these historical forces converged.
What concept is The Origins of Totalitarianism most known for introducing?
It brought the notion of 'Radical Evil' into political discourse and established totalitarianism as a fundamentally new category of government rather than a mere variant of despotism or dictatorship.
How does The Origins of Totalitarianism's argument differ from earlier political theory?
Arendt insists that totalitarian rule is an entirely novel form of governance that cannot be reduced to tyranny, despotism, or dictatorship, making it a distinct and unprecedented phenomenon in political history.
More in Nonfiction And Reference 25-29
Elsewhere in the Nonfiction And Reference universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record