Ideas of the 20th Century

In lecture two, we examine the rise of totalitarianism in 20th-century Europe through fascist and communist movements in Italy, Russia, and Germany. First, we study Mussolini’s fascism as a nationalist system built on state supremacy, propaganda, and the subordination of individual rights. Next, we analyze Stalin’s Soviet Union, focusing on collectivization, political purges, and mass repression. Finally, we learn about Hitler’s rise in Germany, showing how economic crisis and political instability enabled the Nazi regime to establish the most destructive form of totalitarian rule. We conclude by examining how Western intellectuals defended these brutal regimes despite evidence of their atrocities.