The Origins of Totalitarianism

“General tends, like the coincident decline of the nation-state and the growth of antisemitism, can hardly ever be explained satisfactorily by one reason or by one cause alone.”

Arendt recommends avoiding tidy summaries that point to singular reasons for antisemitism or its focus by Nazi totalitarianism. She emphasizes the complexity of the rise of totalitarianism. To fully understand what happened, Arendt suggests examining all possible angles and understanding how multiple factors are at play.

“Persecution of powerless or power-losing groups may not be a very pleasant spectacle, but it does not spring from human meanness alone. What makes men obey or tolerate real power and, on the other hand, hate people who have wealth without power, is the rational instinct that power has a certain function and is of some general use.”

Arendt points to the decline of Europe and the loss of power and influence of the Jewish people as one of the major causes of modern antisemitism. She asserts that people are less accepting of wealth when it is not tied to the function of power.

“A fundamental difference between modern dictatorships and all other tyrannies of the past is that terror is no longer used as a means to exterminate and frighten opponents, but as an instrument to rule masses of people who are perfectly obedient.”

Arendt exposes how terror is a tool used by dictators to control. Terror has a specific function that makes it useful beyond merely inciting fear; it mobilizes and focuses groups of people toward a common goal and against a perceived common enemy.