AUTHORITARIANISM
Definition
• Practice of management in which orders are issued with threats of punishment for disobedience, and which is based on the belief that status and power differences in an organization are appropriate and must be maintained.
• An authoritarian leadership style is being used when a leader who dictates policies and procedures, decides what goals are to be achieved, and directs and controls all activities without any meaningful participation by the subordinates.
• Totalitarianism can also mean that the country might be ruled by one person. It means that one person or party holds absolute control. It generally means that the population is excluded from the political process, and any form of dissent is met with force.
Background
• Authoritarian leaders are commonly referred to as autocratic leaders. They provide clear expectations for what, when and how something should be done. There is also a clear divide between the leader and the followers.
• Authoritarian leaders make decisions independently with little or no input from the rest of the group. Authoritarian leaders uphold stringent control over their followers by directly regulating rules, methodologies, and actions.
• Authoritarian leaders construct gaps and build distance between themselves and their followers with the intention of stressing role distinctions. Abuse of this style is usually viewed as controlling, bossy and dictatorial.
Communication Patterns of Authoritarian Leadership
• Downward, one-way communication (i.e. leaders to followers, or supervisors to subordinates)
• Controls discussion with followers
• Dominates interaction
• Independently/unilaterally sets policy and procedures
• Individually directs the completion of tasks
• Does not offer constant feedback
• Rewards acquiescent obedient behavior and punishes erroneous actions
• Poor listener
• Uses conflict for individual gain
Effects of Authoritarian Leadership Communication Styles
• Increase in productivity when leader is present
• Produces more accurate solutions when leaser is knowledgeable
• Is more positively accepted in larger groups
• Enhances performance on simple tasks and decreases performance on complex tasks
• Increases aggression levels among followers
Examples of Authoritarian Leaders
• Benito Mussolini – Italian leader that became Dollfuss' principal foreign ally. Italy guaranteed Austrian independence at Riccione (August 1933), but in return Austria had to abolish all political parties and reform its constitution on the Fascist model. In March 1933, Dollfuss’ attacks on Parliament culminated that September in the permanent abolition of the legislature and the formation of a corporate state based on his Vaterländische Front (“Fatherland Front”); with which he expected to replace Austria’s political parties. In foreign affairs he steered a course that converted Austria virtually into an Italian satellite state. Hoping therewith to prevent Austria’s incorporation into Nazi Germany, he fought his domestic political opponents along fascist-authoritarian lines
• Adolf Hitler - was extremely authoritarian. He required the population of the Third Reich to accept everything that he said as absolute law, and was able to impose a death sentence on anyone who failed to do so. Hitler was obsessed with being in control, and with being the alpha male in a rigid male dominance hierarchy.
• Bill Gates - adopted this style and has steered Microsoft toward great success. Autocratic leadership style works well if the leader is competent and knowledgeable enough to decide about each and everything. Authoritative is considered one of the most effective leadership styles in case there is some emergency and quick decisions need to be taken
Countries that practice Authoritarian style:
• China, North Korea, Burma, Zimbabwe.
• There is also at the moment in Libya with Gaddafi and in the war Germany was one with Adolf Hitler
TOTALITARIANISM
• Background
• The term "totalitarianism" describes a government that controls all aspects of its citizens' lives. It is characterized by a one-party government, often headed by one charismatic leader. Totalitarian states include several regimes that compel entire populations to support an ideology or government. Such states commonly use secret police, propaganda, terror tactics and elimination of criticism of the regime to maintain their power.
• Totalitarianism governments are similar to dictatorships and fascist governments in their ideology and the power they give to their leaders. However, totalitarianism differs from other governments in that the government typically focuses on one goal. These governments are considered cruel and unfair by most people and typically infringe on the personal freedoms of their citizen
Ideas of Totalitarian Governments
• Strong, Central Government
-The government is in charge of all social, political and business organizations and demands control and respect.
• Social Institutions
- social institutions are swept aside in favor of government institutions. Totalitarian governments might put a stop to social traditions, such as weddings and funerals.
• Censorship
- totalitarian governments must censor media outlets such as newspapers, books, TV shows and movies. Many times, the government seizes control of a media outlet, making it impossible to publish stories that reveal government failures. The government may suppress any anti-government editorials or make it illegal to criticize the government.
• Police and Violence
- Police in a totalitarian state often operate under rules and regulations that are unknown to the public and might engage against violence against nonviolent dissenters or protesters. Large-scale violence is common in totalitarian regimes and might include attacks on social groups, assassination of those who previously held power or the elimination of people who wield influence and refuse to bend to the will of the government. The leader of the government is considered the leader of the police and can order violence or attacks without asking other government organizations for permission.
Info….
• What is an example of totalitarian government?
Controlling every aspect of public and private life in a country.
• What are historical examples of totalitarianism?
Historical examples of Totalitarian dictators and totalitarianism include Adolf Hitler of Germany, Joseph Stalin of Russia/Soviet Union. (It is known as the Soviet Union under communism) Another example is Mao from China and Benito Mussolini
• What are examples of totalitarian countries?
A totalitarian government is a country run with only one political party, like China, or North Korea. The government can prevent people from doing anything including leaving the country.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
AUTHORITARIANISM & TOTALITARIANISM
| AUTHORITARIAN | TOTALITARIAN |
Charisma | Low | High |
Role conception | Leader as individual | Leader as function |
Ends of power | Private | Public |
Corruption | High | Low |
Official ideology | No | Yes |
Limited pluralism | Yes | No |
Legitimacy | No | Yes |
Other differences
AUTHORITARIAN | TOTALITARIAN |
- leave a larger sphere for private life - lack a guiding ideology, tolerate some pluralism in social organization - lack the power to mobilize the whole population in pursuit of national goals - exercise their power within relatively predictable limits. | |
· 'An authoritarian regime' denotes a state in which the single power holder - an individual 'dictator', a committee or a junta - monopolizes political power · Authoritarian refers to the structure of government rather than to society. | A totalitarian regime does much more. It attempts to control virtually all aspects of the social life including economy, education, art, science, private life and morals of citizens. The officially proclaimed ideology, penetrates into the deepest reaches of societal structure and the totalitarian government seeks to completely control the thoughts and actions of its citizens . |
SUMMARY
- An authoritarian regime has one ruler, a leader or a committee, the same as a totalitarian, only in an extreme way.
- The totalitarian has charisma over his people while the authoritarian imposes fear over those who oppose and rewards those that are loyal to him.
- The totalitarian is more of a divine ideologist who will save the people, while the authoritarian is focused more on control and status quo as an individualist.
- The totalitarian uses his prophetic leadership to drive the people, while the authoritarian uses political parties, mass organizations, and other propagandas to make the people follow him.
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GENDER DISCRIMINATION at the workplace
