Hannah Arendt's "The Origins of Totalitarianism" does not tell what happened to them; it tells what can happen to us

Photo of Hannah Arendt in 1958 / Münchner Stadtmuseum, Sammlung Fotografie (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Text: Essi Ryymin

Philosopher and political theorist Hannah Arendt’s (1906-1975) “The Origins of Totalitarianism” (1951) is a significant work that explores the emergence of totalitarian regimes in the 20th century, focusing on Nazism and Stalinism. Arendt examines the historical, political, and social foundations of totalitarianism, providing insights into how these regimes gained power, how they functioned, and what set them apart from other authoritarian systems. Arendt’s analysis is still strikingly relevant in today’s context. Many current political trends in Western democracies reflect her concerns about society descending into moral and cultural decline.

Masses of alienated and isolated

Like in the past, populism attracts individuals who feel overlooked by conventional political leaders. In many countries, populist movements often arise from a sense of frustration with the political establishment. Voters may feel that their problems are being overlooked and that the system is working against them.

Arendt argued that isolation fosters totalitarianism. Today, technological and social shifts, and globalisation, have contributed to a sense of disconnection among many. The decline of traditional community structures, increasing inequality, and societal fragmentation have created an environment where the masses feel isolated and powerless, making them more vulnerable to populist messages.

Arendt noted that totalitarian movements often gravitate around a charismatic leader who offers hope. Populist movements frequently revolve around leaders who position themselves as outsiders and defenders of the ordinary people. These leaders often promise to take the battle to the political elite and propose simple solutions to complex issues such as immigration and trade.

Declining, destroying, dehumanising

Many populist movements express strong hostility to traditional democratic institutions, including the judiciary, the media and political elections. When these institutions oppose populism, they are often labeled as corrupt or biased, similar to how totalitarian leaders undermine institutions to strengthen their control. This decline in trust in democratic institutions is one of the critical warning signs Arendt highlighted.

Arendt cautioned that the destruction of truth is a crucial step toward totalitarianism. The surge of fake news, disinformation, and “alternative facts” makes it increasingly difficult for many to discern what is true. Arendt pointed out that totalitarian regimes often capitalise on and exacerbate racial and ethnic tensions, using these divisions to strengthen their control. Populist leaders frequently rally their followers by portraying certain groups as enemies of the state or nation. Totalitarian regimes dehumanise and marginalise specific groups to unify the masses.

The normalisation of evil

One concept deeply concerning is Hannah Arendt’s "the banality of evil”. This idea is central to her book “Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil” (1963). The book stems from Arendt’s reporting on the 1961 trial of Adolf Eichmann (1906-1962), a high-ranking Nazi official. Eichmann was a principal architect of the Holocaust, tasked with organising the logistics of deporting millions of Jews. Arendt contended that Eichmann was not a monstrous, fanatical ideologue but rather an ordinary bureaucrat and a family man who followed orders without critically considering their moral consequences. He prioritised obedience to authority and career advancement over personal responsibility or ethical reflection.

The concept of the banality of evil (as Arendt understood it “evil becoming an everyday thing” and “evil as a common action”) concretisises how not only individuals but also societies can slip into authoritarianism where dehumanising policies become the norm. This shift occurs gradually, as political parties and establishment start to accept or overlook harmful actions, often citing political pragmatism, fear of losing support, or the belief that making concessions will protect a perceived greater good.

Getting involved

In open societies healthy democratic parties distance themselves from the extreme rhetoric of populist parties. However, as time goes on, they may begin to tolerate or even incorporate certain aspects of these policies as part of a broader strategy to stay competitive. In some cases, democratic parties might even ally with populist or far-right parties to maintain power or justify specific policy goals. In doing so, they often compromise on core principles and implicitly endorse the extreme elements of their partners’ agendas.

Without others, the night does not go on

A year ago, I went to see the play Eichmann – Where the Night Begins at Tampereen Työväen Teatteri. The work is based on a text by Italian playwright Stefano Massini (b. 1975) who explores the origins of evil and the individual’s responsibility within a totalitarian system by an imagined dialogue between philosopher Hannah Arendt and Adolf Eichmann. The performance brings to the stage Arendt’s finding that evil can become ordinary when a society quietly begins to accept inhumanity as part of normal life.

Massini emphasises that no one changes the course of history alone, but everyone plays a part in it. As the play’s introduction states: “One person’s role may be the first, the hundredth, or the thousandth – but without others, the night does not go on". What made the performance especially memorable was the charismatic Seela Sella’s (b. 1936) role as Hannah Arendt. Her powerful presence and portrayal of the uncompromising Arendt were unforgettable.

#BookClub #HannahArendt #TheOriginsofTotalitarianism# #EichmannInJerusalem #IndividualResponsibility #MoralRreflection
#CrisiOf Democracy

Note: Generative AI (DeepL, and Grammarly) was used to assist with the language proofreading and grammatical refinement of this post. However, as the text has not been checked by a native English speaker, it contains some oddities.

Image: Stephan Dost / Adobe Stock (Free License)

Tiivistelmä suomeksi:

"Mistä yö alkaa?" 

Filosofi Hannah Arendtin (1906-1975) teos The Origins of Totalitarianism (suomeksi "Totalitarismin synty") on vuonna 1951 julkaistu klassikkoteos, jossa Arendt tarkastelee totalitaaristen järjestelmien, erityisesti natsismin ja stalismin, historiallisia, poliittisia ja sosiaalisia juuria. Hän analysoi, miten antisemitismi, imperialismi, massojen vieraantuminen ja yhteisöllisyyden rapautuminen loivat pohjan totalitarismille, ja miten karismaattiset johtajat pystyivät hyödyntämään ihmisten turhautumista. Arendt toteaa, että demokratioiden heikkeneminen alkaa usein luottamuksen menettämisestä instituutioihin, totuuden vääristymisestä ja viholliskuvien rakentamisesta. Pelottavan tuttua.

Myöhemmässä teoksessaan Eichmann Jerusalemissa: raportti pahuuden banaaliudesta (1963) Arendt syventää totalitarismianalyysiaan tarkastelemalla natsirikollinen Adolf Eichmannin (1906-1962) oikeudenkäyntiä. Hän esittää, että Eichmann ei ollut poikkeuksellinen hirviö, vaan tavallinen virkamies, joka “seurasi vain ohjeita”, kuten Eichmann hoki oikeudenkäyntinsä loppuun saakka. Arendt korostaa yksilön vastuuta, kriittisen ajattelun merkitystä ja demokraattisten arvojen puolustamista silloinkin, kun se tarkoittaa jo vakiintuneiden sääntöjen, ohjeiden ja normien vastustamista.

Kävin katsomassa vuosi sitten Tampereen Työväen Teatterin esityksen “Eichmann – mistä yö alkaa”. Kyseessä oli Stefano Massinin (s. 1975) teksti, joka rakentuu kuvitteelliseen keskusteluun Hannah Arendtin ja Adolf Eichmannin välillä. Teos tutkii, miten tavallinen ihminen voi muuttua väkivallan ja julmuuden välineeksi noudattaessaan sokeasti käskyjä. “Yhden ihmisen rooli voi olla ensimmäinen, sadas tai tuhannes – mutta ilman muita yö ei jatku.” Esityksestä teki erityisen mieleenpainuvan itkettävän ihanan, säkenöivän karismaattisen, käsittämättömän lahjakkaan (jep, olen fani) Seela Sellan (s. 1936) rooli periksiantamattomana Hannad Arendtina.

“Ja äkkiä oli yö.” 

#BookClub #HannahArendt #TheOriginsofTotalitarianism# #EichmannInJerusalem #IndividualResponsibility #MoralRreflection
#CrisiOf Democracy

Ps. Käytin tämän postauksen englannin kielen tarkistamiseen generatiivista tekoälyä (DeepL ja Grammarly). Koska natiivi englannin osaaja ei kuitenkaan ole oikolueknut tekstiä, se sisältää kummallisuuksia. Saattaapa niitä sisältää suomenkielinen tiivistelmäkin, mutta otan härmän suhteen vähän enemmän vapauksia.