The hottest Totalitarianism Substack posts right now

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Top U.S. Politics Topics

The great puzzle of the Great Terror

Global Inequality and More 3.0 • 1540 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
💾 History Totalitarianism
  1. Massive social achievements and violent repression coexisted side by side, with everyday enthusiasm and large-scale projects happening even as purges and executions destroyed lives.
  2. The motives behind the Great Terror remain unclear and puzzling; simple explanations like paranoia or routine power consolidation don't fully account for its scale and who was targeted.
  3. Properly explaining the purges requires a wide historical perspective and diverse sources—archival records, biographies, and personal testimonies—to capture both political calculations and lived experience.

The New Eugenics Movement - Part 1

Arkmedic's blog • 4658 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🏥 Health Politics Totalitarianism
  1. The judiciary, influenced by eugenicists, normalized forced genetic therapy as a societal condition.
  2. Utilitarianism, used for 'the greater good,' erodes individual rights and can lead to tyranny.
  3. The next step from gene therapy is CRISPR gene editing, aiming for genetic perfection for the elite.

Stephen Kotkin on Stalinism as (Mostly) Politics & (Lessly) Psychopathology

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 169 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
💾 History Totalitarianism
  1. A capable LLM sitting at your elbow makes deep, active reading faster and more productive by supplying context, mapping arguments, and simulating interlocutors, but you must verify its output and not treat it as an oracle.
  2. Stalin is best explained as a product of politics, institutions, and historical forces—World War I, Lenin’s ruthlessness, and party patronage—rather than by childhood psychopathology.
  3. Collectivization and the famine followed a grim ideological and political logic aimed at eradicating marketized rural life, yet after consolidating power Stalin then launched the Great Terror that purged loyal elites in a way political explanations find hard to fully account for.

The Mortal Danger Of 'Yes-Buttery'

Daily Dreher • 2004 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Totalitarianism
  1. The evil of Hamas's actions cannot be justified under any circumstances.
  2. Attempts to downplay atrocities like those of Hamas are dangerous and reminiscent of historical atrocities.
  3. The rise of a totalitarian mentality in the West is concerning and must be confronted to prevent further horrors.
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The Nazis Did Not ‘Weaponize’ Free Speech. They Crushed It.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2119 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
💾 History Totalitarianism
  1. The Nazis did not use free speech to their advantage; instead, they suppressed it completely. This shows how dangerous it can be when a government controls speech.
  2. There is a significant amount of historical misunderstanding today, especially in media discussions. This leads to misleading narratives about past events and their implications.
  3. Critiquing historical figures without proper context can lead to false conclusions about their actions and the times they lived in. It’s important to understand history accurately to avoid repeating mistakes.

Chartbook Reissue: Reading Grossman's "Stalingrad" and "Life and Fate".

Chartbook • 2403 implied HN points • 15 Dec 24
📚 Literature Totalitarianism
  1. Vasily Grossman's books, 'Stalingrad' and 'Life and Fate', are powerful war novels that also explore deep social issues and philosophical ideas. They show how the battle at Stalingrad impacted the course of history and reflect on the struggles of Soviet society.
  2. The narrative highlights how time and history feel different during intense crises like war. Grossman captures the chaos of battle and the shifting sense of time that soldiers experience, making readers understand the weight of those moments.
  3. Grossman's work also examines totalitarianism and power dynamics, revealing the harsh realities faced by individuals under oppressive regimes. He illustrates how people navigate choices of survival and moral dilemmas even in the most desperate circumstances.

My Sunday With The Amber-Eyed Hare

Daily Dreher • 1454 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
💾 History Totalitarianism
  1. The story reflects on the rise and fall of a Jewish banking family through generational possessions and the impact of war
  2. The deep-rooted anti-Semitism in European society is highlighted through historical artifacts and experiences
  3. The narration urges vigilance against totalitarianism by drawing parallels between Nazi and Communist regimes, emphasizing the importance of learning from history

Three Diagnoses of Totalitarianism: Kelley, Arendt, and Desmet in Conversation

Who is Robert Malone • 12 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
📖 Philosophy Totalitarianism
  1. Ordinary people, not monsters, can become perpetrators when put into certain social and psychological conditions.
  2. Widespread loneliness, atomization, free‑floating anxiety, and lack of meaning create fertile ground for mass formation that suppresses independent thinking and turns people into unquestioning followers.
  3. Preventing totalitarian dynamics requires a multi‑level response: cultivate independent thinking and civic institutions, rebuild genuine social bonds and meaning, and protect vocal dissent to break the spell of collective hypnosis.

Book Review: 22 Cells In Nuremberg A Psychiatrist Examines the Nazi Criminals

Who is Robert Malone • 12 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
💾 History Totalitarianism
  1. Ordinary people with ambition, weak morals, and a willingness to exploit fear can commit mass crimes when conditions let them; atrocities don’t require monstrous psychopathy.
  2. Authoritarian politics work by stirring emotion, manufacturing enemies, and shutting down critical thought, and those tactics can appear in any democracy, especially during crises.
  3. Preventing authoritarianism depends on strong civic habits: broad voting access and participation, resisting divisive demagogues, robust institutions, and education that promotes critical thinking.

Clapping for Stalin

The Watch • 1298 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Totalitarianism
  1. People often feel pressured to show support, even if they don't really believe in it. This can lead to a situation where everyone claps just to fit in.
  2. Some individuals may hesitate to stop applauding because of fear of consequences, showing how group dynamics can create a sense of obligation.
  3. In extreme situations, a single person's choice can change the entire group’s behavior, like stopping applause, which can reveal who is truly independent and who is not.

The Economist on Mao

David Friedman’s Substack • 476 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
💾 History Totalitarianism
  1. Mao Zedong is often credited for significant changes in China, but his policies caused massive suffering, including a severe famine that killed millions. It's important to look at the real consequences of his leadership, not just the positive narratives.
  2. There was a strong bias among Western intellectuals towards communism, which led to overlooking the negative impacts of Mao's rule. This shows how personal beliefs can cloud judgment about political regimes.
  3. Even reputable publications like The Economist can misjudge historical figures due to a lack of direct information. It's crucial for media to be critical and accurate, especially concerning totalitarian states.

Trump, Musk, Gaza, the Rise of Totalitarianism and the End of the US Empire

The Chris Hedges Report • 353 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Totalitarianism
  1. The rise of totalitarianism is a growing concern in today's society. Many people feel freedom is slipping away and that authoritarian leaders are gaining power.
  2. The situation in Gaza highlights major issues related to human rights and global political struggles. This conflict affects many lives and raises questions about justice and peace.
  3. There is a sentiment that the US empire is declining. Some believe that both political and economic issues point to a significant change in power and influence on the world stage.

2.5 Years of Upheaval

The Upheaval • 1330 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Totalitarianism
  1. The Substack reflects on 2.5 years of exploring upheaval.
  2. The author concludes that the current upheaval is a result of totalitarianism.
  3. The author is transitioning to writing full-time and expresses gratitude to subscribers for their support.

Interview: Ryszard Legutko

The Upheaval • 795 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Totalitarianism
  1. The political turmoil in Poland is examined through the lens of Ryszard Legutko's book, highlighting the government's crackdown on media and institutional changes.
  2. Ideas from Legutko's book suggest that aspects of liberalism contribute to abandoning the rule of law, and policymakers are driven by dogmatic ideological beliefs.
  3. There is a discussion on how liberalism, power, and social engineering intersect, leading to a vision where liberal ideology holds authority over societal structures.

Robert Paxton's Vichy France

Castalia • 219 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23
💾 History Totalitarianism
  1. Vichy France was formed after France fell to Germany in 1940, and many French people thought it was an embarrassing part of their history. However, Robert Paxton showed that Vichy was more of a proactive choice rather than just a forced submission to Nazi demands.
  2. The Vichy regime gained popularity by promoting a vision of a united, family-centered society. Many people believed it was a chance to create a better country, despite the regime being deeply tied to fascist ideas.
  3. Paxton warns that democracies can fail when people lose faith in them, as seen in France during the 1930s. Illiberalism can rise when political groups become extreme and the center loses confidence, which can lead to the collapse of democratic systems without much notice.

Totalitarian Manipulation Of Language Behind Woke Destruction Of Harvard, New York Times, And Other Elite Institutions

Public • 683 implied HN points • 26 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Totalitarianism
  1. Elite institutions like Harvard and The New York Times have been accused of spreading misinformation and undermining their missions.
  2. The manipulation of language and censorship in these institutions is concerning and reminiscent of totalitarian regimes.
  3. To combat this trend, we need to understand how these values contrary to truth and honesty gained power.

Trudeau Demands Life In Prison For Speech Crimes

Public • 568 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Totalitarianism
  1. Trudeau's proposed Online Harms Act aims to impose strict penalties, including life imprisonment, for speech-related offenses.
  2. Critics argue that the legislation is an extreme example of governmental overreach, setting a concerning precedent for free speech in Western societies.
  3. The bill would lead to individuals facing harsher maximum penalties for speech offenses like advocating genocide than for serious physical crimes.

Under the fog of war, Ukraine cancels its 2024 presidential elections

The Dossier • 477 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Totalitarianism
  1. Ukraine canceled its 2024 presidential elections under the cover of war and extended Martial Law, transforming into a totalitarian dictatorship.
  2. The Ukrainian government's actions have led to the removal of opposition parties, the ban of non-state media, and increased centralized power, eroding democratic principles.
  3. An adviser critical of Zelensky faced a criminal investigation, and all dissent from the pro-war narrative leads to scrutiny or worse, showing the severe restrictions on freedom of speech and political opposition in Ukraine.

Shattering the Social Contract

History's Parrot • 58 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Totalitarianism
  1. The intransigence of failed leadership is a threat to America and the world.
  2. Breaking the social contract can happen when a government takes power away from the people.
  3. Understanding the insights of Hannah Arendt, particularly in 'The Origins of Totalitarianism,' is crucial for comprehending modern times.