The Origins of Totalitarianism (book)

"The Origins of Totalitarianism" by Hannah Arendt examines how totalitarian regimes like Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia arose. It explores the social, political, and economic factors—such as imperialism, antisemitism, and the erosion of traditional authority—that created conditions for these regimes to emerge. Arendt analyzes how propaganda, terror, and the loss of individual rights enabled centralized, oppressive control. The book provides historical context and insights into how totalitarianism grew from specific historical currents, emphasizing the dangers of dehumanization, mass mobilization, and the manipulation of truth in modern political systems.